monkey

1 of 2

noun

mon·​key ˈməŋ-kē 

plural monkeys

1

: a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers

especially : any of the smaller longer-tailed catarrhine or platyrrhine primates as contrasted with the apes

2

a

: a person resembling a monkey

b

: a ludicrous figure : dupe

3

: any of various machines, implements, or vessels

especially : the falling weight of a pile driver

4

: a desperate desire for or addiction to drugs

—often used in the phrase monkey on one's back

broadly : a persistent or annoying encumbrance or problem

monkey

2 of 2

verb

monkeyed; monkeying

transitive verb

: mimic, mock

intransitive verb

1

: to act in a grotesque or mischievous manner

2

a

: fool, trifle

—often used with around

he likes to monkey around with engines

b

: tamper

—usually used with with

don't monkey with the settings

Synonyms

Noun

• addiction

Verb

• clown (around)
• horse around
• fool around
• cut up
• show off

Examples of monkey in a Sentence

Noun

He's quite a cheeky little monkey, isn't he?

I've got this monkey on my back, and going to detox is the only way to get it off.

Verb

stop monkeying around in the house or you'll break something

would rather just monkey around instead of doing work

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Many of the racist stereotypes depicted are negative toward Black people in the United States, showing them as monkeys, absent parents, or criminals. —PC Magazine, 3 July 2025

There were also yaks, deer, buffalo, camels, a kangaroo, ostriches, eight monkeys, six raccoons, two grizzly bears, black bears, brown bears, seals, lions, an old tiger, a blind hyena, a circus elephant, an alligator and 400 birds, including a talking crow. —Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

Verb

The Bears will be prepared for the environment, but getting that Morgantown monkey off their back will take a lot more than imagined. —Michael Haag, Dallas News, 10 Oct. 2022

With supply running low toward the end of most evenings, savvy bun fanatics don’t monkey around, routinely calling ahead to request an extra skillet of rolls set aside just for them. Ettan. —Valerie Demicheva and Flora Chang, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably of Low German origin; akin to Moneke, name of an ape, probably of Romance origin; akin to Old Spanish mona monkey

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1658, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing monkey

• a monkey on someone's back
• colobus monkey
• cynomolgus monkey
• get the monkey off one's back
• grease monkey
• green monkey
• howler monkey
• make a monkey out of
• monkey about
• monkey about with (something)
• monkey around
• monkey around with (something)
• monkey bars
• monkey business
• monkey jacket
• monkey puzzle
• monkey with
• monkey wrench
• not give a monkey's
• owl monkey
• powder monkey
• proboscis monkey
• rhesus monkey
• sea monkey
• spider monkey
• squirrel monkey
• throw/hurl/toss a monkey wrench into
• woolly monkey
• woolly spider monkey

Rhymes for monkey

• chunky
• funky
• hunky
• junkie
• spunky

Kids Definition

monkey

1 of 2 noun

mon·​key ˈməŋ-kē 

plural monkeys

1

: any of a group of primate animals other than human beings that are furry and live in warm regions

especially : ones that are small and long-tailed as compared to the apes

2

: a ridiculous person

: fool

monkeyish

-kē-ish

adjective

monkey

2 of 2 verb

monkeyed; monkeying

1

: to act in a playful or mischievous manner

2

: meddle, tamper

don't monkey with the lawn mower

Medical Definition

monkey

noun

mon·​key ˈməŋ-kē 

: a nonhuman primate mammal with the exception usually of the lemurs and tarsiers

especially : any of the smaller longer-tailed primates as contrasted with the apes