orangutan

noun orang·u·tan \ ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ , -ˈraŋ-gə- , -ˌtan \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

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

See orangutan defined for English-language learners

See orangutan defined for kids

Recent Examples of orangutan from the Web

About 674,000 years ago, orangutans on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo split into separate species.

— sean greene, latimes.com, "A rare great ape, a 130-foot-tall tree and an extinct marsupial lion make the Top 10 New Species list for 2018," 23 May 2018
The males are under 5 feet in height, and the females are under 4 feet, which is similar to other orangutans.

— ashley strickland, CNN, "Meet the top 10 new species of 2018," 23 May 2018
The sanctuary, where Alba will live with three other orangutans starting in June, will be patrolled around the clock by security guards.

— samantha drake, chicagotribune.com, "Albino animals are at such risk that people built an island to protect one orangutan," 11 May 2018
The orangutans love visitors who point at them and accuse them of being cute with hair all over their backs.

— ernest slyman, New York Times, "Bronx Zoo," 21 June 2018
Scientists observed orangutans demonstrating a preference for a straw-like tool over similar, less functional things.

— alexis c. madrigal, The Atlantic, "Disposable America," 21 June 2018
Maher has previously compared the president to an orangutan, something Trump and Barr’s supporters have brought up in the wake of the actress’ racist comment.

— alexia fernandez, PEOPLE.com, "Bill Maher Says 'Friend' Roseanne Barr Has Multiple Personalities and One 'Is Quite a Racist'," 2 June 2018
Sadly, Jiaku isn’t the only primate with a chain-smoking problem: An orangutan at Indonesia’s Bandung Zoo has also picked up the habit, after numerous zoo guests deposited lit cigarette butts into the animal’s enclosure.

— kelli bender, PEOPLE.com, "Video Showing Zoo Guests Throwing Lit Cigarettes at Chimp Addicted to Smoking Causes Outrage," 7 June 2018
The post has a clip of Sykes calling President Donald Trump an orangutan.

— stephen hudak, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Lake County GOP leader posts 'And the issue with Roseanne is?' regarding 'Planet of the Apes' tweet," 31 May 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.

Illustration of orangutan

Origin and Etymology of orangutan

Bazaar Malay (Malay-based pidgin), from Malay orang man + hutan forest

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1691

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

ORANGUTAN Defined for English Language Learners

orangutan

noun

Definition of orangutan for English Language Learners

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

ORANGUTAN Defined for Kids

orangutan

noun orang·utan \ ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ , -ˌtan \

Definition of orangutan for Students

: 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

History for orangutan

Orangutans live in dense tropical forests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, part of Indonesia. Like most apes they look a bit like humans. In a language called Malay, spoken by many people of Indonesia as a second language, the apes were given a name formed from Malay orang, “man,” and hutan, “forest”—in other words, “man of the forest.” Europeans visiting the islands adopted the word orangutan, and it found its way into English.