gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈri-lə 

1

: a very large typically black-colored anthropoid ape (Gorilla gorilla) of equatorial Africa that has a stocky body with broad shoulders and long arms and is less erect and has smaller ears than the chimpanzee

2

a

: an ugly or brutal man

b

: thug, goon

Synonyms

• thug
• villain
• bandit
• gangster
• assassin
• criminal
• pirate
• hood

Examples of gorilla in a Sentence

She hired some gorilla as her bodyguard.

the loan shark sent a couple of gorillas to “convince” him to pay up

Recent Examples on the Web

One punch is probably an automatic concussion from a gorilla. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

When she was transferred to the Queen City, Gladys was cared for around-the-clock by zookeepers who taught her how to act and think like a gorilla, wearing black scrubs and black faux fur vests to imitate gorilla fur and acclimate her to the habitat. —Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

And since the derivation of it was ‘100 men versus a gorilla’ ... —Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025

More news: Who wins in a fight between 100 men and 1 gorilla? —Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 2 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek Gorillai, plural, a tribe of hairy women mentioned in an account of a voyage around Africa

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gorilla

• lowland gorilla
• mountain gorilla
• 800-pound gorilla

Rhymes for gorilla

• axilla
• flotilla
• guerilla
• guerrilla
• manilla
• mantilla
• maxilla
• mesilla
• papilla
• priscilla
• scintilla
• sensilla

Kids Definition

gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈril-ə 

: a typically black ape of equatorial Africa that is much larger but stands less erect than the related chimpanzee

Etymology

derived from Greek Gorillai, a name used by ancient explorers for what they thought was a tribe of hairy women in Africa