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chimpanzee

noun
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chim·​pan·​zee | \ (ˌ)chim-ˌpan-ˈzē How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , -pən-ˈzē, -ˈpan-zē How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , sometimes (ˌ)shim- \

Definition of chimpanzee

: an anthropoid ape (Pan troglodytes) of equatorial Africa that is smaller and more arboreal than the gorilla — compare bonobo

Illustration of chimpanzee

Illustration of chimpanzee

Examples of chimpanzee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Previous research has shown chimpanzee mothers provide their sons support that goes far beyond nursing. — Isabella Backman, Science | AAAS, "Even as young adults, male chimps are ‘mama’s boys’," 21 Dec. 2020 The AstraZeneca vaccine, which uses a different approach involving a chimpanzee virus to provoke an immune response to the coronavirus, had all the hallmarks of a blockbuster. — Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, "After Admitting Mistake, AstraZeneca Faces Difficult Questions About Its Vaccine," 25 Nov. 2020 The AstraZeneca vaccine, which uses a different approach involving a chimpanzee virus to provoke an immune response to the coronavirus, had all the hallmarks of a blockbuster. — Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, "After Admitting Mistake, AstraZeneca Faces Difficult Questions About Its Vaccine," 25 Nov. 2020 The Russian candidate uses human adenovirus, while AstraZeneca's is based on a chimpanzee viral vector. — Tara John, CNN, "What you need to know about coronavirus on Friday, December 11," 11 Dec. 2020 The chimpanzee rescue team now has twenty-eight chimps to look after, including an eight week-old baby. — Ed Stockly, Los Angeles Times, "What’s on TV Saturday, Sunday Talk: A Bee Gees documentary," 11 Dec. 2020 Andrew Halloran, director of chimpanzee care at Save the Chimps, also embraces the tool. — David Grimm, Science | AAAS, "Chimpanzee sanctuaries are under fire. Can a new science-based tool improve ape welfare?," 2 Dec. 2020 The AstraZeneca vaccine, which uses a different approach involving a chimpanzee virus to provoke an immune response to the coronavirus, had all the hallmarks of a blockbuster. — Benjamin Mueller, New York Times, "After Admitting Mistake, AstraZeneca Faces Difficult Questions About Its Vaccine," 25 Nov. 2020 Scientists at Bay Area universities, laboratories, biotechnology companies and drug manufacturers are fashioning drug concoctions out of blood plasma, chimpanzee viruses and cells taken from bone marrow in the race to rid the world of COVID-19. — Peter Fimrite, SFChronicle.com, "Coronavirus treatments and vaccines. Here are the latest developments," 29 Nov. 2020

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

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First Known Use of chimpanzee

1738, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for chimpanzee

Kongo dialect chimpenzi

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Time Traveler for chimpanzee

Time Traveler

The first known use of chimpanzee was in 1738

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Statistics for chimpanzee

Last Updated

17 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Chimpanzee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chimpanzee. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for chimpanzee

chimpanzee

noun
How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of chimpanzee

: an intelligent animal that is a type of ape and that lives mostly in trees in Africa

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

chimpanzee

noun
chim·​pan·​zee | \ ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , chim-ˈpan-zē \

Kids Definition of chimpanzee

: an African ape that lives mostly in trees and is smaller than the related gorilla

chimpanzee

noun
chim·​pan·​zee | \ ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , ˌshim- How to pronounce chimpanzee (audio) , -pən-; chim-ˈpan-zē, shim- \

Medical Definition of chimpanzee

: an anthropoid ape of the genus Pan (P. troglodytes) found in equatorial Africa that is smaller and more arboreal than the gorilla — see bonobo

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More from Merriam-Webster on chimpanzee

Nglish: Translation of chimpanzee for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of chimpanzee for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chimpanzee

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