bonobo

noun

bo·​no·​bo bə-ˈnō-bō  ˈbä-nə-bō 

-nō-

plural bonobos

: a rare great ape (Pan paniscus) that has a more slender build and longer limbs than the related common chimpanzee (P. troglodytes) and that inhabits a small geographic region in equatorial Africa south of the Congo River

called also pygmy chimpanzee

Examples of bonobo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Because chimpanzees and bonobos are the closest genetic relatives to people, Mitani and Sandel think their findings offer lessons for humanity. —Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026

And so do some primates, such as bonobos and snub-nosed monkeys. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026

The size of Little Foot’s face fell between that of a gorilla and an orangutan, while the shape was closer to what is seen in orangutans and bonobos. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026

The bonobo, a great ape, broke the interior pane of the exhibit glass on Feb. 26, the Memphis Zoo said in a statement later that evening. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

bonobo

noun

bo·​no·​bo bə-ˈnō-bō; ˈbä-nə-bō  -nō- 

: a rare anthropoid ape of the genus Pan (P. paniscus) that has a more slender build and longer limbs than the related common chimpanzee (P. troglodytes)

called also pygmy chimpanzee