hindquarters

IPA/ˌhaɪndˈkwɔːtəz/
KK[hˈaɪndkwˌɔrtɚz]IPA/ˈhaɪndkwɔːrtərz/

hindquarters — noun

1. the rear section of any animal that walks on four legs, including the hips, the

1.nounB2
Definition

the rear section of any animal that walks on four legs, including the hips, the upper area of the back legs, and the part around the tail

Example

Sofia gently brushed the horse's hindquarters before placing the saddle on its back.

possessive + hindquarters with a domestic animal

The dog sat up on its hindquarters and stretched its front paws toward the treat.

on its hindquarters — posture phrase

Common collocations
  • powerful hindquarters
  • muscular hindquarters
  • hindquarters rise
  • hindquarters lower
  • on its hindquarters
  • hindquarters of a horse/dog/cat
Synonyms
  • rump

    more specific — refers mainly to the rounded upper part above the back legs, not the entire rear section

  • rear end

    less technical and slightly informal; can also sound humorous

  • hind legs

    refers only to the two back legs themselves, not the whole hip-and-tail area

Antonyms
  • forequarters

    the front part of a four-legged animal, including the chest and front legs

Grammar Patterns

hindquarters + of + [animal]

possessive + hindquarters

on + possessive + hindquarters

Usage Note

This noun is always used in the plural form (hindquarters), even when referring to a single animal. It is best suited for describing live animals and is less common for cooked meat or butchery contexts.

Common Mistakes

The horse hurt its hindquarter during the race.
The horse hurt its hindquarters during the race.
hindquarters is always plural, even for one animal.
She slipped on the hindquarters of the chair.
She slipped on the back legs of the chair.
hindquarters refers only to animal bodies, not furniture or objects.

Word family

  • hindquarter
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Hindquarters refers to the entire rear section of a four-legged animal — the hips, upper back legs, and tail area. Rump is narrower: it describes only the rounded, fleshy upper part above the back legs (e.g., 'the horse's rump was dirty'). Hind legs is more specific still, meaning just the two back limbs, not the body area they attach to ('the dog injured its hind leg'). Rear end is a casual, often humorous term that works for both animals and people but sounds less precise. When writing about animal anatomy or veterinary care, hindquarters is the most accurate and professional choice.

hindquarters ↗rumphind legsrear end

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • hindquarters of the [animal]

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchEnglish

Hindquarters combines the adjective 'hind' (meaning 'at the back', from Old English 'hindan' meaning 'from behind') with 'quarters' (from Old French 'quartier', meaning 'a part or portion'). The word was first used in the 16th century as a hunting and animal husbandry term before entering general vocabulary.