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

See photos of new baby after Cincinnati Zoo gorilla gives birth. —Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Sep. 2025

The victim, identified as Eli Jordan Walker, told police that Rhodes, who was wearing a gorilla suit, put him in a headlock while Robinson, dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, allegedly repeatedly kicked and punched him before stealing his shoes. —Doc Louallen, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2025

Human Rights Watch also previously documented the mass killings in Rutshuru, near Virunga National Park, a crucial gorilla habitat. —Sarah Dean, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2025

Disney World is mourning the death of a 44-year-old gorilla, Gino, who died at Animal Kingdom. —Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 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