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
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Recent Examples of orangutan from the Web
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Orangutans, clouded leopards, pygmy elephants and other rare animals all call Borneo’s rainforests home.
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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Origin and Etymology of orangutan
Bazaar Malay (Malay-based pidgin), from Malay orang man + hutan forest
First Known Use: 1691
ORANGUTAN Defined for English Language Learners
orangutan
playDefinition of orangutan for English Language Learners
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: a large ape that has very long arms and reddish-brown hair
ORANGUTAN Defined for Kids
orangutan
playDefinition 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.
Learn More about orangutan
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See words that rhyme with orangutan Spanish Central: Translation of orangutan Nglish: Translation of orangutan for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about orangutan
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