monkey

1 of 2

noun

mon·​key ˈməŋ-kē How to pronounce monkey (audio)
plural monkeys
1
: a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers
especially : any of the smaller longer-tailed catarrhine or platyrrhine primates as contrasted with the apes
2
a
: a person resembling a monkey
b
: a ludicrous figure : dupe
3
: any of various machines, implements, or vessels
especially : the falling weight of a pile driver
4
: a desperate desire for or addiction to drugs
often used in the phrase monkey on one's back
broadly : a persistent or annoying encumbrance or problem

monkey

2 of 2

verb

monkeyed; monkeying

intransitive verb

1
: to act in a grotesque or mischievous manner
2
a
: fool, trifle
often used with around
he likes to monkey around with engines
b
: tamper
usually used with with
don't monkey with the settings

Examples of monkey in a Sentence

Noun He's quite a cheeky little monkey, isn't he? I've got this monkey on my back, and going to detox is the only way to get it off.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But, were there monkeys on Oshkosh's Monkey Island? Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2024 But there would not have been a Salk vaccine without the work of Isabel Morgan, a researcher at Johns Hopkins University who discovered three subtypes of the virus and helped develop an experimental vaccine that protected monkeys against polio. Alicia Ault, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 The company behind the 737 Max, a plane its own test pilots infamously derided as designed by clowns and supervised by monkeys, wants to be known for quality and safety once again. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 El Jardín Botánico is a sprawling, forested park patrolled by monkeys and caimans. Laurence Blair, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Attached to the swing is a cute mobile with a plush star and monkey dangling from it, and the seat has a vibration setting to soothe your little one. Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 By the early 1970s, the virus, which by then was known to infect small mammals besides monkeys, had spread to humans as well. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 The closer the animal is to humans, the more transferable the results — think research on apes and monkeys. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 If your version of romance is hiking through monkey forests and rolling rice paddies — or dancing to DJ sets and light shows until the wee hours of the morning — head to Bali, a beautiful Indonesian isle known for its vibrant nightlife scene. Claudia Fisher, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
The Bears will be prepared for the environment, but getting that Morgantown monkey off their back will take a lot more than imagined. Michael Haag, Dallas News, 10 Oct. 2022 With supply running low toward the end of most evenings, savvy bun fanatics don’t monkey around, routinely calling ahead to request an extra skillet of rolls set aside just for them. Ettan. Valerie Demicheva and Flora Chang, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 July 2021 But this experiment isn't about monkeying around—this a real security and safety hazard, the researchers point out in a new paper. Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 31 Jan. 2020 To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monkey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably of Low German origin; akin to Moneke, name of an ape, probably of Romance origin; akin to Old Spanish mona monkey

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1658, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of monkey was circa 1530

Dictionary Entries Near monkey

Cite this Entry

“Monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monkey. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

monkey

1 of 2 noun
mon·​key ˈməŋ-kē How to pronounce monkey (audio)
plural monkeys
1
: any of a group of primate animals other than human beings that are furry and live in warm regions
especially : ones that are small and long-tailed as compared to the apes
2
: a ridiculous person
: fool
monkeyish
-kē-ish
adjective

monkey

2 of 2 verb
monkeyed; monkeying
1
: to act in a playful or mischievous manner
2
: meddle, tamper
don't monkey with the lawn mower

Medical Definition

monkey

noun
mon·​key ˈməŋ-kē How to pronounce monkey (audio)
: a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers
especially : any of the smaller longer-tailed primates as contrasted with the apes

More from Merriam-Webster on monkey

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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