rhesus monkey

noun

rhe·​sus monkey ˈrē-səs- 

: a pale brown Asian macaque (Macaca mulatta) often used in medical research

called also rhesus, rhesus macaque

Examples of rhesus monkey in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rhesus monkeys were being transported when the truck carrying them crashed in Jasper County, Mississippi, about 75 miles east of Jackson, the Jasper County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. —Dennis Romero, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2025

There have been no reports of humans contracting Herpes B from a wild rhesus monkey, but 50 cases of humans contracting it from the monkeys in laboratory settings have been reported. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025

After the wreck, which happened north of Heidelberg, multiple rhesus monkeys escaped into the community, according to the Jasper County Sheriff's Office. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025

As the story goes, a rhesus monkey — the same variety found at Silver Springs — was gifted to the Elks Club in Sanford by a traveling circus. —Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Rhesus, genus of monkeys, from Latin, a mythical king of Thrace, from Greek Rhēsos

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rhesus monkey

• chunky
• funky
• hunky
• junkie
• spunky

Kids Definition

rhesus monkey

noun

rhe·​sus monkey ˌrē-səs- 

: a pale brown Asian monkey often used in medical research

Medical Definition

rhesus monkey

noun

: a pale brown Asian monkey of the genus Macaca (M. mulatta) often used in medical research