gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈri-lə 

1

: a very large typically black-colored anthropoid ape (Gorilla gorilla) of equatorial Africa that has a stocky body with broad shoulders and long arms and is less erect and has smaller ears than the chimpanzee

2

a

: an ugly or brutal man

b

: thug, goon

Synonyms

• thug
• villain
• bandit
• gangster
• assassin
• criminal
• pirate
• hood

Examples of gorilla in a Sentence

She hired some gorilla as her bodyguard.

the loan shark sent a couple of gorillas to “convince” him to pay up

Recent Examples on the Web

Zoogoers at the San Diego Zoo witnessed the startling moment a gorilla ran up against a glass viewing platform and broke it. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025

The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden announced the name of Gladys the gorilla's three-week-old son. —Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Oct. 2025

The International Fund for Animal Welfare notes that the western lowlands are the smallest of the gorilla species. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2025

While Goodall focused on chimps, Dian Fossey studied gorillas and Birutė Galdikas studied orangutans. —Tricia Escobedo, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek Gorillai, plural, a tribe of hairy women mentioned in an account of a voyage around Africa

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing gorilla

• lowland gorilla
• mountain gorilla
• 800-pound gorilla

Rhymes for gorilla

• axilla
• flotilla
• guerilla
• guerrilla
• manilla
• mantilla
• maxilla
• mesilla
• papilla
• priscilla
• scintilla
• sensilla

Kids Definition

gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈril-ə 

: a typically black ape of equatorial Africa that is much larger but stands less erect than the related chimpanzee

Etymology

derived from Greek Gorillai, a name used by ancient explorers for what they thought was a tribe of hairy women in Africa