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
• dependence
• dependance
• habit
• jones [slang]

Verb

• act up
• clown (around)
• cut up
• fool around
• horse around
• hotdog
• show off
• showboat
• skylark

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Here are some ways to build your table inspired by the tableaus set by these five creatives from Wing on Wo’s supine monkey centerpiece to Gohar World’s Battenberg lace wine glass slipper. —Chloe Malle, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2023

Each episode of Scavengers Reign is packed with absolutely bizarre alien life, from hypnotic killer monkeys to aquatic egg-eating monstrosities. —Andrew Webster, The Verge, 23 Nov. 2023

Earlier this year, a 3-year-old boy was abducted by a monkey that carried the child up a cliff. —Michael Lee, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2023

Researchers created a monkey that combines cells from two different individuals; a lab technique gave it a strange green glow Scientists have just achieved a milestone in stem-cell biology after creating a monkey from two embryos. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023

Here guests will spy a hanging monkey, trying to manipulate a timer that is designed to release food. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023

Scientists have just achieved a milestone in stem-cell biology after creating a monkey from two embryos. —Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023

Deer and boars, in particular, can wreak havoc on agricultural produce, while encounters between humans and monkeys or bears can escalate into dangerous confrontations. —Anthony Trotter, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023

The two held up 21-month-old son Dawson, who wore an Abu onesie costume, complete with the monkey's purple vest. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023

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

But this experiment isn't about monkeying around—this a real security and safety hazard, the researchers point out in a new paper. —Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, 31 Jan. 2020

To make matters more confusing, Apple monkeyed around with the names of the new stuff. —Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2019

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

See More

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

See More

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