silverback

noun

sil·​ver·​back ˈsil-vər-ˌbak How to pronounce silverback (audio)
: an older adult usually dominant male gorilla having gray or whitish hair on the back

Examples of silverback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Though Koga’s death was sudden, the silverback gorilla had been under veterinary care for heart disease for years. Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 In April 2023, silverback gorilla Ramses celebrated his 52nd birthday, as he's believed to be the oldest of his species in the world. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 22 Jan. 2024 Stories of animals, like Digit, the silverback gorilla that researcher Dian Fossey studied in the late 1960s, or Lonesome George, the last of the giant Pinta Island tortoises, show how relatable and inspiring individual animals can be. Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 26 Apr. 2023 Until a few years ago, the zoo also had a bachelor group made of silverback brothers Kwame and Kojo, who were born to Mandara in 1999 and 2001. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2023 Our first introduction to the mountain gorillas was meeting 31-year-old chief silverback Akarevuro, who was taking a morning nap. Alisandra Puliti, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2023 For much of their lives, Frank and Monroe had been living at the park in a gorilla troop led by silverback gorilla Winston, 50. San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2023 Although the video shows the real lives of a mountain gorilla family, there is a story involved, complete with conflict as silverback gorilla Zirikana tries to assert himself against the family's dominant silverback Charles. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 28 July 2022 The video shows the infant meeting Juba, a silverback gorilla who lives in a bachelor group with three other silverback males at the Dallas Zoo. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 4 Mar. 2022

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

Word History

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silverback was in 1963

Dictionary Entries Near silverback

Cite this Entry

“Silverback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silverback. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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