monkey

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

—often used in the phrase make a monkey out of

I'm not going to let that salesman make a monkey out of me!

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

Synonyms of monkey

• addiction
• dependence

Examples of monkey in a Sentence

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

Madonna hunts pheasant in the English countryside, Thomas Edison electrocutes an elephant, Harry Harlow conducts callous experiments on monkeys, and Jimmy Carter fends off a swamp rabbit attack. —Literary Hub, 9 June 2026

Our team tested this theory by giving rhesus macaque monkeys infected with SIV – a version of HIV that infects nonhuman primates – a multiple sclerosis drug that targets integrins. —Smita S. Iyer, The Conversation, 8 June 2026

The connection to nature at Vista Celestial is truly profound, with wildlife waiting for you at the door—I'm not kidding, at one point, a capuchin monkey walked onto our patio to say hello. —Christina Perrier, InStyle, 8 June 2026

Yasunaga said that as Punch's popularity increased and fans wanted to offer financial support for the baby monkey, the zoo set up a fund for him on March 16. —Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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
• 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