orangutan

noun

orang·​u·​tan ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ How to pronounce orangutan (audio)
-ˈraŋ-gə-,
-ˌtan How to pronounce orangutan (audio)
: any of several largely herbivorous arboreal anthropoid apes (Pongo pygmaeus, P. abelii, and P. tapanuliensis) of Borneo and Sumatra that are about ²/₃ as large as the gorilla and have brown skin, long sparse reddish-brown hair, and very long arms

Illustration of orangutan

Illustration of orangutan

Examples of orangutan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Java whispers through misty ancient temples like Borobudur and Prambanan, while Sumatra’s dense jungles echo with wild calls of orangutans swinging through fig trees and the rustle of monsoon rain. Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 Many scientists have observed orangutans and other primates over the years, following and meticulously recording their daytime activity. Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 25 June 2025 The new $66 million setup, which encompasses nearly three acres, will include two indoor habitats (one of which is viewable by the public) and four outdoor habitats for western lowland gorillas, Bornean orangutans and several monkey species. Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025 Male Sumatran orangutans have a median life expectancy of about 25 years, according to zoo staff. Sara Schilling, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for orangutan

Word History

Etymology

Bazaar Malay (Malay-based pidgin), from Malay orang man + hutan forest

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of orangutan was in 1691

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Cite this Entry

“Orangutan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orangutan. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

orangutan

noun
orang·​utan
ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ,
-ˌtan
: a large anthropoid ape of Borneo and Sumatra that is about ⅔ as large as a gorilla, eats mostly plants, lives in trees, and has very long arms, long thin reddish brown hair, and a nearly hairless face

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