chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee (ˌ)chim-ˌpan-ˈzē 

-pən-ˈzē, 

-ˈpan-zē 

sometimes (ˌ)shim-

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

Illustration of chimpanzee

Examples of chimpanzee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gorillas have them, but chimpanzees do not. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026

Johannes Roberts, 89 minutes Lean and very mean, this Fantastic Fest opening night premiere tells the story of Ben, a chimpanzee who has lived most of his life as a family pet, communicating with the residents of a Hawaiian home. —Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2026

Old research suggested that, adjusted for body weight, a chimpanzee might ingest the equivalent of more than two standard alcoholic drinks a day. —K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 25 Feb. 2026

Noel, a female chimpanzee at Project Chimps, eats snacks at the sanctuary in 2018. —Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Kongo dialect chimpenzi

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chimpanzee

• pygmy chimpanzee

Rhymes for chimpanzee

• mansi
• pansy
• tansy

Kids Definition

chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē  ˌshim- 

chim-ˈpan-zē, 

shim-

: an African ape that is related to the gorilla but is smaller and spends more of its time in trees

Medical Definition

chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē  ˌshim- 

-pən-; chim-ˈpan-zē, 

shim-

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