Illustration of gibbon
: any of a family (Hylobatidae) of agile brachiating tailless apes of southeastern Asia that are the smallest and most arboreal anthropoid apes
Examples of gibbon in a Sentence
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There were as many as 2,000 Hainan gibbons living on the island in the 1950s, but deforestation and hunting led to a severe decline, according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), which is working to conserve the species.
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Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Skywalker gibbons are particularly famous for their vocal prowess, with their songs echoing across the forest canopy.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
By studying modern primates that can fully metabolize alcohol (e.g., gorillas, chimps, bonobos) and those that can’t (e.g., orangutans and gibbons), scientists re-created and tested ancestral versions of the enzymes to see at what point the genetic divergence occurred.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Although rhinos are the star attraction on park safaris, all sorts of animals live here, including tigers, elephants, gibbons, sloth bears, and a small number of endangered Ganges River dolphins.
—Margot Bigg, Travel + Leisure, 1 Jan. 2026
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Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Skywalker gibbons are particularly famous for their vocal prowess, with their songs echoing across the forest canopy.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2026
By studying modern primates that can fully metabolize alcohol (e.g., gorillas, chimps, bonobos) and those that can’t (e.g., orangutans and gibbons), scientists re-created and tested ancestral versions of the enzymes to see at what point the genetic divergence occurred.
—Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026
Although rhinos are the star attraction on park safaris, all sorts of animals live here, including tigers, elephants, gibbons, sloth bears, and a small number of endangered Ganges River dolphins.
—Margot Bigg, Travel + Leisure, 1 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for gibbon
Cite this Entry
“Gibbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gibbon. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gibbon
noun
gib·bon
ˈgib-ən 
: any of several tailless apes of southeastern Asia that are smaller and spend more time in trees than the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan
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