silverback
noun
sil·ver·back
ˈsil-vər-ˌbak 
: an older adult usually dominant male gorilla having gray or whitish hair on the back
Examples of silverback in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Moloko is Cleveland’s male silverback gorilla, who has taken a liking to Kayembe, and also leader of Cleveland’s bachelor group.
—
Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024
In October, two zookeepers were accidentally trapped in a silverback gorilla's enclosure with the animal.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
Though Koga’s death was sudden, the silverback gorilla had been under veterinary care for heart disease for years.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
In April 2023, silverback gorilla Ramses celebrated his 52nd birthday, as he's believed to be the oldest of his species in the world.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 22 Jan. 2024
Stories of animals, like Digit, the silverback gorilla that researcher Dian Fossey studied in the late 1960s, or Lonesome George, the last of the giant Pinta Island tortoises, show how relatable and inspiring individual animals can be.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 26 Apr. 2023
Until a few years ago, the zoo also had a bachelor group made of silverback brothers Kwame and Kojo, who were born to Mandara in 1999 and 2001.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2023
Our first introduction to the mountain gorillas was meeting 31-year-old chief silverback Akarevuro, who was taking a morning nap.
—Alisandra Puliti, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2023
For much of their lives, Frank and Monroe had been living at the park in a gorilla troop led by silverback gorilla Winston, 50.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2023
Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Mar. 2024
In October, two zookeepers were accidentally trapped in a silverback gorilla's enclosure with the animal.
—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
Though Koga’s death was sudden, the silverback gorilla had been under veterinary care for heart disease for years.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024
In April 2023, silverback gorilla Ramses celebrated his 52nd birthday, as he's believed to be the oldest of his species in the world.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 22 Jan. 2024
Stories of animals, like Digit, the silverback gorilla that researcher Dian Fossey studied in the late 1960s, or Lonesome George, the last of the giant Pinta Island tortoises, show how relatable and inspiring individual animals can be.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Ars Technica, 26 Apr. 2023
Until a few years ago, the zoo also had a bachelor group made of silverback brothers Kwame and Kojo, who were born to Mandara in 1999 and 2001.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2023
Our first introduction to the mountain gorillas was meeting 31-year-old chief silverback Akarevuro, who was taking a morning nap.
—Alisandra Puliti, Travel + Leisure, 28 Feb. 2023
For much of their lives, Frank and Monroe had been living at the park in a gorilla troop led by silverback gorilla Winston, 50.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Jan. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silverback.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Silverback.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silverback. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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