When people search buttox vs buttocks, they're usually confident they know the word but uncertain how to spell it. Only one form is correct: buttocks. "Buttox" doesn't appear in any standard dictionary in English, and if you use it in writing, spell-checkers will flag it immediately. The good news is that the correct spelling follows a pattern you'll recognize once it's pointed out.
Which spelling is correct?
Buttocks is the only accepted spelling. It's a plural noun referring to the two rounded fleshy parts that form the human posterior. The singular form, buttock, is also a real word, though it's used far less often in everyday writing. Most people reach for the plural automatically, which makes sense because the body part comes in a pair.
"Buttox" is simply a misspelling. It's not a regional variant, an archaic form, or an informal alternative. It's an error, full stop.
Why do people write "buttox"?
The confusion is driven almost entirely by sound. When spoken at normal speed, "buttocks" ends with a sound that many listeners process as "-ox." The final syllable, "-ocks," sounds identical to the word "ox" in casual speech, and the brain records what it hears. That phonetic impression then gets transferred to the page.
There's also a subtle reinforcement effect. English has other words ending in "-ox": pox, box, fox, detox. These are common enough that "-ox" feels like a perfectly natural English word ending. The "-ocks" ending, by contrast, looks slightly unusual, even though it appears in words like locks, stocks, and docks. Familiarity with one pattern and unfamiliarity with the other nudges writers toward the misspelling.
This is the same mechanism behind dozens of common errors, like writing firey instead of fiery, where the spelling that matches how the word sounds turns out to be the wrong one.
How to remember "buttocks" every time
The simplest trick is to work backward from the singular: buttock. Spelled out clearly, the word ends in "-ock," just like clock, rock, or block. Add an "s" to make it plural and you get "buttocks," not "buttox." Thinking of the singular first removes the ambiguity completely.
Another anchor: the word buttocks shares its structure with words like hammocks (plural of hammock) and hassocks (plural of hassock). All of them follow the same "-ock" to "-ocks" plural pattern. Once you see it, the "-ox" ending becomes obviously wrong.
Using "buttocks" correctly in a sentence
Buttocks functions as a plural noun, so it takes a plural verb. In formal or medical writing, buttocks is the standard term. In informal contexts, people use dozens of other words, but if you need the precise anatomical term, buttocks is always the right choice.
A few examples of correct usage:
- "The patient reported pain in the left buttock." (singular, one side)
- "Strengthen the buttocks with targeted exercises."
- "The injury affected the muscles of the buttocks."
The word traces back to Old English buttuc, meaning "end" or "short piece of land," related to the idea of a rounded protrusion. Merriam-Webster records the first known use in the 15th century. The modern spelling has been stable for centuries, which is one reason "buttox" doesn't show up even in older texts as a variant.
A note on related misspellings
Spelling errors that follow the sound of a word rather than its actual form are extremely common in English. The pattern shows up in errors like congradulations instead of congratulations, where the misspelling captures what the writer hears rather than what the word actually contains. Recognizing this tendency helps with any phonetically tricky word, not just buttocks.
If you're ever uncertain, typing the word into a dictionary search takes about three seconds and settles the question immediately. With buttocks specifically, the "-ocks" ending is the only one you'll find.