gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈri-lə 

1

: a very large typically black-colored anthropoid ape (Gorilla gorilla) of equatorial Africa that has a stocky body with broad shoulders and long arms and is less erect and has smaller ears than the chimpanzee

2

a

: an ugly or brutal man

b

: thug, goon

Synonyms

• thug
• villain
• bandit
• gangster
• assassin
• criminal
• pirate
• hood

Examples of gorilla in a Sentence

She hired some gorilla as her bodyguard.

the loan shark sent a couple of gorillas to “convince” him to pay up

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of the posts, such as one referencing a viral debate about whether 100 men or one gorilla would win in a fight, have tapped into an internet phenomenon of the moment. —Brett Samuels, The Hill, 7 May 2025

The next year Wickers came to Wrigley on opening day wearing a gorilla suit. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025

Culture is less well studied in gorillas than in other great apes. —Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 10 June 2025

The idea for the fight was born out of the viral 100 men vs. one gorilla online debate. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 29 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek Gorillai, plural, a tribe of hairy women mentioned in an account of a voyage around Africa

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gorilla

• lowland gorilla
• mountain gorilla
• 800-pound gorilla

Rhymes for gorilla

• axilla
• flotilla
• guerilla
• guerrilla
• manilla
• mantilla
• maxilla
• mesilla
• papilla
• priscilla
• scintilla
• sensilla

Kids Definition

gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈril-ə 

: a typically black ape of equatorial Africa that is much larger but stands less erect than the related chimpanzee

Etymology

derived from Greek Gorillai, a name used by ancient explorers for what they thought was a tribe of hairy women in Africa