marmoset

noun

mar·​mo·​set ˈmär-mə-ˌset 

-ˌzet

: any of numerous small soft-furred South and Central American monkeys (family Callithricidae) with claws instead of nails on all the digits except the big toe

Illustration of marmoset

Examples of marmoset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The marmoset is thought to have been dumped by its owner, prompting animal welfare officers to warn of further abandonments as a result of a recent change in the law surrounding the keeping of primates in England. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

In a country whose hiking infrastructure is still nascent, the trail is helping to preserve green space and offering visitors the opportunity to see wildlife like monkeys, marmosets, coatis, sloths, and toucans. — Gloria Liu, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026

In the grand scheme of things, that is the blink of a marmoset’s eye. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026

Classic research from Nature on common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus), which are notable for their biparental care, found that males carrying and caring for infants showed prolactin levels roughly five times higher than males without offspring. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English marmusette kind of monkey, from Middle French marmoset grotesque figure, from marmouser to mumble, of imitative origin

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for marmoset

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bassinet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet

Kids Definition

marmoset

noun

mar·​mo·​set ˈmär-mə-ˌset 

-mə-ˌzet

: any of numerous South and Central American monkeys that have soft fur, a bushy tail, and claws instead of nails except on the big toe