The sirloin is actually divided into several types of steak. The top sirloin is the most prized of these and is specifically marked for sale under that name. The bottom sirloin, which is less tender and much larger, is typically marked for sale simply as “sirloin steak.” The bottom sirloin in turn connects to the sirloin tip roast.

In British and Australian butchery, the word sirloin refers to cuts of meat from the upper middle of the animal, more equivalent to the American short loin.