chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee (ˌ)chim-ˌpan-ˈzē 

-pən-ˈzē, 

-ˈpan-zē 

sometimes (ˌ)shim-

: a great ape (Pan troglodytes) of equatorial Africa that is smaller and more arboreal than the gorilla compare bonobo

Illustration of chimpanzee

Examples of chimpanzee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples vary, from our close relative the chimpanzee to a diverse range of rodents, marsupials, and birds. —Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026

Sahelanthropus tchadensis lived in north-central Africa seven million years ago, right when the hominin lineage split off from that of our nearest animal relatives, chimpanzees and bonobos. —Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 2 Jan. 2026

Our very ancient ancestors probably moved around the way chimpanzees do, using both their arms and legs. —Steven Lautzenheiser, The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2025

Two weeks later, a second infant chimpanzee was born to an 18-year-old first-time mother named Vindi. —Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 2 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Kongo dialect chimpenzi

First Known Use

1738, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing chimpanzee

• pygmy chimpanzee

Rhymes for chimpanzee

• mansi
• pansy
• tansy

Kids Definition

chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē  ˌshim- 

chim-ˈpan-zē, 

shim-

: an African ape that is related to the gorilla but is smaller and spends more of its time in trees

Medical Definition

chimpanzee

noun

chim·​pan·​zee ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē  ˌshim- 

-pən-; chim-ˈpan-zē, 

shim-

: an anthropoid ape of the genus Pan (P. troglodytes) found in equatorial Africa that is smaller and more arboreal than the gorilla see bonobo