howler monkey

noun

: any of a genus (Alouatta) of South and Central American monkeys that have a long prehensile tail and enlargement of the hyoid bone and expansion of the larynx enabling them to make loud howling noises

Illustration of howler monkey

Illustration of howler monkey

Examples of howler monkey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That's what scientists think after watching a bunch of male white-faced capuchin monkeys walking around with baby howler monkeys clinging to their backs. Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 19 May 2025 Additionally, howler monkey moms give birth only once every two years, on average. Marlowe Starling, CNN Money, 19 May 2025 Video From January 2022 to July 2023, researchers documented 11 different howler monkey babies being carried by five young male capuchins. Elizabeth Landau, New York Times, 19 May 2025 These capuchins had gotten ahold of at least seven different howler monkey babies, and carried them for stretches of two to eight days. Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for howler monkey

Word History

First Known Use

1932, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of howler monkey was in 1932

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Cite this Entry

“Howler monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/howler%20monkey. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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