orangutan

noun

orang·u·tan | \ ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ

, -ˈraŋ-gə-, -ˌtan

Definition of orangutan

: a largely herbivorous arboreal anthropoid ape (Pongo pygmaeus) of Borneo and Sumatra that is about ²/₃ as large as the gorilla and has brown skin, long sparse reddish-brown hair, and very long arms

Examples of orangutan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over a simmering pot of laksa (spicy noodle soup) Eusope sometimes closes her eyes and imagines frolicking in the flood waters after a monsoon in Penang, her pet orangutan, Madu, by her side. — Justin Phillips, SFChronicle.com, "San Francisco’s new Malaysian restaurant, Mahila, is a chef’s ode to childhood and mamak culture," 13 June 2019 Setchell points out how much social variability exists just within the great apes: gorilla groups are often based around just one male; male chimps form coalitions; and orangutans are solitary. — Cathleen O'grady, Ars Technica, "Gorillas that are great with kids are also luckier in love," 18 Oct. 2018 Gibbons are long-armed, tree-dwelling primates that are much smaller than the great apes (such as gorillas, orangutans and humans). — Amina Khan, latimes.com, "Extinct species of gibbon discovered in an unlikely place — the tomb of a Chinese noblewoman," 22 June 2018 The nests or tracks of animals, such as orangutans and turtles, can also be used to infer presence. — Smithsonian, "When It Comes to Counting Wildlife, Drones Are More Accurate Than People," 27 Feb. 2018 His company’s rain forest, a humid and swampy expanse home to orangutans and clouded leopards, is twice the size of New York City and has one of the largest carbon stores of any such project in the world. — Jon Emont, WSJ, "One Man’s Money-Draining Bet on Climate Change," 27 Dec. 2018 Infrared cameras can help: Dr. Wich had been using them for decades to study orangutans. — New York Times, "How Do You Count Endangered Species? Look to the Stars," 5 Apr. 2018 Hannover’s other two orangutans moved last year to the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas. — Janet Mcconnaughey, The Seattle Times, "German zoo sends its last orangutan to Louisiana," 10 Sep. 2018 Female orangutans rarely live past the age of 50, and in 2016, she was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest verified living Sumatran orangutan in the world. — Casey Quackenbush, Time, "The World's Oldest Known Sumatran Orangutan Has Died at Age 62," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'orangutan.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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16 Jun 2019

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The first known use of orangutan was in 1691

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More Definitions for orangutan

orangutan

noun

English Language Learners Definition of orangutan

: a large ape that has very long arms and reddish-brown hair

See the full definition for orangutan in the English Language Learners Dictionary

orangutan

noun

orang·utan | \ ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ

, -ˌtan\

Kids Definition of orangutan

: a large ape of Borneo and Sumatra that lives in trees, eats mostly fruit, leaves, and other plant matter, and has very long arms, long reddish brown hair, and a nearly hairless face