marmoset

noun

mar·​mo·​set ˈmär-mə-ˌset 

-ˌzet

: any of numerous small soft-furred South and Central American monkeys (family Callithricidae) with claws instead of nails on all the digits except the big toe

Illustration of marmoset

Examples of marmoset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In Spanish, the pygmy marmoset is called leoncillo, or little lion. —Jessica Camille Aguirre, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025

In 2012, yet another was isolated from a marmoset in Brazil, and named Perdões. —Geraldine Castro, WIRED, 20 Dec. 2024

His friends are a snow leopard with a big white mustache and a thimble-size marmoset who also sports a big white mustache. —Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024

Species include marmosets, cynomolgus and rhesus macaques, African Greens, and several New World species. —Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 10 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English marmusette kind of monkey, from Middle French marmoset grotesque figure, from marmouser to mumble, of imitative origin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for marmoset

• alphabet
• arpanet
• bayonet
• biuret
• cigarette
• clarinet
• coronet
• coverlet
• dataset
• epithet
• ethernet
• heavyset

Kids Definition

marmoset

noun

mar·​mo·​set ˈmär-mə-ˌset 

-mə-ˌzet

: any of numerous South and Central American monkeys that have soft fur, a bushy tail, and claws instead of nails except on the big toe