capuchin

noun ca·pu·chin \ ˈka-pyə-shən , -pə- , especially for sense 3 also kə-ˈpyü- , -ˈpü- \

|Updated on: 22 Jul 2018

Definition of capuchin

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 a genus (Cebus) of South and Central American monkeys; especially : one (C. capucinus) with the dark hair on its crown resembling a close-fitting cap

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Recent Examples of capuchin from the Web

Earlier this month, a group of capuchins were spotted in Panama using stone tools to smash shellfish and other foods, theWashington Post’s Sarah Kaplan reports.

— meilan solly, Smithsonian, "Did the Human Hand Evolve as a Lean Mean Bone-Smashing Machine?," 13 July 2018
Monk, a 4-year-old capuchin monkey, was seen in police body cam footage clinging to Hession ‘s chest.

— paulina dedaj, Fox News, "Police arrest Florida man after he steals car with pet monkey, allow him one final goodbye," 9 June 2018
Or Brazilian capuchin monkeys that use heavy stones to smash hard nuts against flat boulders that serve as anvils.

— jonathan balcombe, Scientific American, "Fishes Use Problem-Solving and Invent Tools," 1 May 2017
While Carl Minix went out to dinner between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, a burglar broke into his home near Griffin Road and Southwest 148th Avenue and stole the 3-month-old Brazilian black cap capuchin monkey out of his cage, Minix said.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "$10,000 reward offered in missing monkey case," 18 Dec. 2017
Researchers have detected Zika in capuchin monkeys and common marmosets, which both reside near humans in Brazil.

— aimee cunningham, Washington Post, "Although the number of Zika cases has fallen, the virus is unlikely to vanish," 4 Nov. 2017
Visitors can walk through trails and get up close to one gorilla, one orangutan, five capuchins and dozens of Java macaques and squirrel monkeys.

— alan gomez, USA TODAY, "Miami monkeys prepare for Hurricane Irma," 9 Sep. 2017
Johnny Depp is back as Jack Sparrow, as is Geoffrey Rush as a well-bearded Barbossa, looking a lot like the Cowardly Lion, and his faithful capuchin monkey.

— mark kennedy, idahostatesman, "Fifth ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ flick fights bloat," 25 May 2017
Johnny Depp is back as Jack Sparrow, as is Geoffrey Rush as a well-bearded Barbossa, looking a lot like the Cowardly Lion, and his faithful capuchin monkey.

— mark kennedy, charlotteobserver, "Review: Fifth ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ flick fights bloat," 24 May 2017

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

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.