Illustration of macaque
: any of a genus (Macaca) of chiefly Asian monkeys typically having a sturdy build and including some short-tailed or tailless forms
especially
: rhesus monkey
Examples of macaque in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Why the Stuffed Orangutan Worked Japanese baby macaques typically cling to their mothers to build muscle strength and for a sense of security.
—
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Punch, whose real name is Panchi-kun, is a male Japanese macaque — a species also known as a snow monkey.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Zoo caretakers stepped in to hand-raise him, carefully monitoring his development and gradually introducing him to other macaques.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Officially called Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), the primates are well known for taking advantage of the warm waters during snowy winters.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
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Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2026
Punch, whose real name is Panchi-kun, is a male Japanese macaque — a species also known as a snow monkey.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026
Zoo caretakers stepped in to hand-raise him, carefully monitoring his development and gradually introducing him to other macaques.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Officially called Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), the primates are well known for taking advantage of the warm waters during snowy winters.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for macaque
Cite this Entry
“Macaque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/macaque. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
: any of various monkeys mostly from Asia that includes some with either short or no tails
especially
: rhesus monkey
Etymology
French, from Portuguese macaco, from makaku, plural of kaku, name for an African monkey in one or more Bantu languages of Gabon and Congo
Medical Definition
: any of numerous short-tailed Old World monkeys of the genus Macaca and related genera chiefly of southern Asia
especially
: rhesus monkey
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