baboon

noun

ba·boon | \ ba-ˈbün

How to pronounce baboon (audio)

, chiefly British bə- \

Definition of baboon

: any of a genus (Papio) of large gregarious primates of Africa and southwestern Asia having a long square naked muzzle also : any of several closely related primates

Examples of baboon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Dominy and his colleagues studied chemical isotopes in the baboon’s tooth enamel for clues to the animal’s birthplace. — Colin Barras, Science | AAAS, "3300-year-old baboon skull may tell of mysterious ancient kingdom," 15 Dec. 2020 The strontium ratio in the tooth enamel confirmed that the ancient baboon had not been born in Egypt. — Colin Barras, Science | AAAS, "3300-year-old baboon skull may tell of mysterious ancient kingdom," 15 Dec. 2020 These involved a butcher's list of rare animal carcasses and parts: a half ton of pangolin scales, four great apes, one baboon, 60 kilograms of ivory and several monkeys. — Natalie Gallón, CNN, "Can nature heal itself? What the pandemic has shown us," 2 Oct. 2020 On our game drives, wildlife tumbled out of the bush, one breathless David Attenborough moment after the other; a leopard on the hunt, a lion cub with a baboon carcass, elephants by the dozen, thick herds of impala. — Alexandra Fuller, Travel + Leisure, "The Unexpected Lessons One Writer Learned From Returning To Her African Homeland," 21 Aug. 2020 In what came to be known as the Zanesville massacre, law enforcement officers had to hunt and kill 18 tigers, 17 lions, and three mountain lions, as well as bears, a baboon, and wolves. — Rachel Nuwer, Longreads, "The Strange and Dangerous World of America’s Big Cat People," 10 Mar. 2020 Wilson often cared for zoo babies at home at night, her daughter remembered — a baboon, a gorilla, all kinds of monkeys, even snakes. — John Leland, BostonGlobe.com, "Mary J. Wilson, barrier-smashing zookeeper, dies at 83," 4 June 2020 Amarello looked to methods that scientists use to study other animals that are more traditionally thought of as social, like elephants or baboons. — Erin Stone, azcentral, "Snakes aren't all cold-blooded loners, an ASU researcher says. They have friends, too," 8 June 2020 Creatures ranging from the humble laboratory mouse to hamsters and baboons are in the mix. — Simon Makin, Scientific American, "From Hamsters to Baboons: The Animals Helping Scientists Understand the Coronavirus," 14 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'baboon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about baboon

Dictionary Entries near baboon

Statistics for baboon

Cite this Entry

“Baboon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baboon. Accessed 13 May. 2021.

Style: MLA

MLA

Chicago

APA

Merriam-Webster Check Mark Icon

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for baboon

baboon

noun

English Language Learners Definition of baboon

: a large African or Asian monkey

See the full definition for baboon in the English Language Learners Dictionary

baboon

noun

ba·boon | \ ba-ˈbün

\

Kids Definition of baboon

: a large monkey of Africa and Asia with a doglike face

WORD OF THE DAY

exhilarate

Listen to the pronunciation of exhilarate

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Choose the best definition or synonym for the word in bold: "There are some eructations that sound like cheers—at least, mine did." Lolita

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Universal Daily Crossword

A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.

TAKE THE QUIZ