The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not contain the distal portion of the urethra, and functions solely to induce sexual pleasure.

The only known exception to this is in the Spotted Hyena. In this species, the urogenital system is unique in that the female urinates, mates and gives birth via an enlarged, erectile clitoris, known as a pseudo-penis. The word is pronounced /ˈklɪtɒrɪs/ ( listen) or /klɪˈtɔərɪs/ ( listen).

The plural forms are clitorises in English and clitorides in Latin. In slang, it is sometimes abbreviated as clit, which originated in the 1950s. The OED suggests that the pronunciation /ˈklaɪtɒrɪs/) is also used in the UK, and gives the likely etymology as coming from the Greek κλειτορἰς, kleitoris, perhaps derived from the verb κλεἰ-ειν, klei-ein, to shut.

The Online Etymology Dictionary maintains that the etymology of this diminutive is still uncertain noting that many sources take Κλειτορίδ, kleitorid, literally from the Greek "little hill”. Other etymological candidates are key or latch, to touch or titillate lasciviously, to tickle, to be inclined (toward pleasure) and slope, from the same root as climax. It has been noted in German as der Kitzler meaning "the tickler".

Its Latin genitive is clitoridis, as in "glans clitoridis". The head or glans of the clitoris is roughly the size and shape of a pea, although it can be significantly larger or smaller. The clitoral glans is highly sensitive, containing 8,000 nerve endings, double the nerve endings as the analogous organ in males, the glans penis, making it particularly well-suited for sexual stimulation.

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