Illustration of chimpanzee
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
Examples of chimpanzee in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bubbles and Samantha, the oldest and third-oldest chimpanzees in North American captivity, were joyous as ever, celebrating their 63rd and 57th birthdays on Thursday.
—
Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Jane Goodall, the late primatologist, was known for her imitations of chimpanzee greetings.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Number 65 was a male chimpanzee born in 1957 in the French Cameroons in West Africa.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
The idea was first proposed in context of studying the behavior of a chimpanzee named Sarah.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
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Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2026
Jane Goodall, the late primatologist, was known for her imitations of chimpanzee greetings.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Number 65 was a male chimpanzee born in 1957 in the French Cameroons in West Africa.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 30 Jan. 2026
The idea was first proposed in context of studying the behavior of a chimpanzee named Sarah.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chimpanzee
Cite this Entry
“Chimpanzee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chimpanzee. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chimpanzee
noun
chim·pan·zee
ˌchim-ˌpan-ˈzē
ˌshim-
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-
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
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