chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee (ˌ)chim-ˌpan-ˈzē 

-pən-ˈzē,

-ˈpan-zē 

 sometimes  (ˌ)shim-

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

Illustration of chimpanzee

Examples of chimpanzee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The public was asked to choose the name of the newest chimpanzee born at the Maryland Zoo. —Alexa Dikos, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2024

Alongside the paper, researchers published photos of primates including Capuchin monkeys, spider monkeys and even chimpanzees eating alcoholic fruit. —Saul Elbein, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2024

The octopus, the elephant, the great horned owl, the house cat, the giant tortoise, the chimpanzee: who, in all the vast animal kingdom, joins us in having intimations of mortality? —Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024

According to court records, the Nonhuman Rights Project since 2013 has filed nine lawsuits, including this one, to free elephants and chimpanzees in New York, Colorado, California and Hawaii. —Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Kongo dialect chimpenzi

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chimpanzee

• pygmy chimpanzee

Kids Definition

chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē  ˌshim- 

chim-ˈpan-zē,

shim-

: an African ape that is related to the gorilla but is smaller and spends more of its time in trees

Medical Definition

chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē  ˌshim- 

-pən-; chim-ˈpan-zē,

shim-

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