orangutan

noun

orang·​u·​tan ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ 

-ˈraŋ-gə-,

-ˌtan 

: 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

Examples of orangutan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

John Mitani is a professor emeritus of anthropology at the University of Michigan, whose studies over 45 years have included wild chimpanzees in Uganda and Tanzania; gibbons and orangutans in Indonesia, gorillas in Rwanda, and bonobos in the Democratic Republic of Congo. —Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Far from uncomfortable, these orangutans even know how to build luxury items such as pillows, blankets, mattresses (linings), and roofs to make their nests weather-proof. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2025

Lions, bears, wolves, orangutans, kangaroos and many other species faced Russian shells exploding around them and animals possibly in the hundreds were reportedly killed, as well as three zoo workers who stayed behind to feed their charges. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2025

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

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

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