capuchin

noun

ca·​pu·​chin ˈka-pyə-shən 

-pə-,

especially for sense 3 also

kə-ˈpyü- 

-ˈpü-

1

capitalized : a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin forming since 1529 an austere branch of the first order of St. Francis of Assisi engaged in missionary work and preaching

2

: a hooded cloak for women

3

: any of two genera (Cebus and Sapajus) of South and Central American monkeys

especially : one (C. capucinus) with the dark hair on its crown resembling a close-fitting cap

Did you know?

Members of a genus of tropical monkeys (four species altogether) capuchins are found from Nicaragua to Paraguay. Considered among the most intelligent New World monkeys, capuchins are so-named because of their cap of crown hair, which resembles the cowl of Capuchin monks. These stocky, round-headed monkeys are 12-22 in. (30-55 cm) long, with a hairy, prehensile tail of about the same length. They are brown or black in color, sometimes with white markings. Capuchins live in troops, often in the treetops. They eat fruit and small animals and sometimes raid plantations for oranges and other food. They are easily trained and are valued as gentle pets.

Examples of capuchin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other than toting the babies on their backs, none of the capuchins interacted with or cared for the howlers, and eventually all the infants died of starvation. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 25 May 2025

In one video, a group of capuchins prevents an infant howler monkey from escaping while adult howler monkeys call out. —Elizabeth Landau, New York Times, 19 May 2025

Other young male capuchins who saw Joker's novel behavior, however, decided to copy it. —Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 19 May 2025

Costa Rican white-faced capuchins were more likely to survive El Niño if their feces exhibited higher levels of stress hormones during preceding droughts. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French, from Old Italian cappuccino, from cappuccio; from his cowl

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

capuchin

noun

cap·​u·​chin

ˈkap-yə-shən,

kə-ˈp(y)ü-

: a brown or black monkey of South and Central America with a whitish face, chest, and shoulders