1 chimpanzee | Definition of chimpanzee

chimpanzee

noun
chim·​pan·​zee | \ (ËŒ)chim-ËŒpan-ˈzÄ“ How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , -pÉ™n-ˈzÄ“, -ˈpan-zÄ“ How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , sometimes (ËŒ)shim-\

Definition of chimpanzee

: an anthropoid ape (Pan troglodytes) of equatorial Africa that is smaller and more arboreal than the gorilla — compare bonobo

Illustration of chimpanzee

Illustration of chimpanzee

Examples of chimpanzee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hundreds of chimpanzees in such a space would quickly be ripping one another limb from limb. John Hawks, WSJ, "‘The Goodness Paradox’ Review: The Benefits of Good Breeding," 25 Jan. 2019 Goodall is best known as a primatologist/anthropologist and the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, after spending more than 55 years studying wild chimps at the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. Maria Puente, USA TODAY, "Prince Harry 'dances' with his hero, Dr. Jane Goodall, at conservation summit," 23 July 2019 Harry, 34, met with Dr. Goodall, the renowned conservationist famous for her study of social interactions of wild chimpanzees, before learning about the Roots & Shoots program. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, "Prince Harry Reenacts a 'Chimp Greeting' with Dr. Jane Goodall — See the Hilarious Moment!," 23 July 2019 Human activity is destroying the cultural diversity of chimpanzees. Rafil Kroll-zaidi, Harper's magazine, "Findings," 22 July 2019 Most of the chimpanzees in Tanzania are not protected. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Chimp champ Jane Goodall enlists advanced mapping technology for nature and humanity," 9 July 2019 This is the first time than any chimpanzee has been documented eating any kind of reptile. Douglas Main, National Geographic, "In a first, chimpanzees seen smashing and eating tortoises," 23 May 2019 Humans are not alone in being much more peaceful on the whole than chimpanzees. John Hawks, WSJ, "‘The Goodness Paradox’ Review: The Benefits of Good Breeding," 25 Jan. 2019 Instead, these researchers say, the origins of such social systems extend at least as far back as the common ancestor of humans and gorillas, but were lost in chimpanzees. Virginia Morell, Science | AAAS, "Gorillas have developed humanlike social structure, controversial study suggests," 17 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chimpanzee.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of chimpanzee

1738, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for chimpanzee

Kongo dialect chimpenzi

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More Definitions for chimpanzee

chimpanzee

noun

English Language Learners Definition of chimpanzee

: an intelligent animal that is a type of ape and that lives mostly in trees in Africa

chimpanzee

noun
chim·​pan·​zee | \ ËŒchim-ËŒpan-ˈzÄ“ How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , chim-ˈpan-zÄ“\

Kids Definition of chimpanzee

: an African ape that lives mostly in trees and is smaller than the related gorilla

chimpanzee

noun
chim·​pan·​zee | \ ËŒchim-ËŒpan-ˈzÄ“ How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , ËŒshim- How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , -pÉ™n-; chim-ˈpan-zÄ“, shim-\

Medical Definition of chimpanzee

: an anthropoid ape of the genus Pan (P. troglodytes) found in equatorial Africa that is smaller and more arboreal than the gorilla — see bonobo

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More from Merriam-Webster on chimpanzee

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Britannica English: Translation of chimpanzee for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chimpanzee