Illustration of orangutan
orangutan
noun
orang·u·tan
ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ 
-ˈraŋ-gə-,
-ˌtan
: any of several largely herbivorous arboreal great apes (Pongo pygmaeus, P. abelii, and P. tapanuliensis) of Borneo and Sumatra that are about ²/₃ as large as the gorilla and have brown skin, long sparse reddish-brown hair, and very long arms
Examples of orangutan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The baby monkey became an internet star earlier this year after the zoo posted photos of him clutching an IKEA plush orangutan for comfort after being rejected by his mother.
—
Frank Andrews, CBS News, 18 May 2026
For months, photos and videos of Punch with his orangutan and interacting with other monkeys in his exhibit went viral.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 May 2026
At age 99, the English broadcaster made history as the oldest daytime Emmy winner for his work on The Secret Lives of Orangutans, a docuseries following a multi-generation family of orangutans in Indonesia.
—Laura Millar, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Building these rudimentary and temporary platforms—something modern gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees still do—would have offered protection from predators and blood-sucking insects.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
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Frank Andrews, CBS News, 18 May 2026
For months, photos and videos of Punch with his orangutan and interacting with other monkeys in his exhibit went viral.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 18 May 2026
At age 99, the English broadcaster made history as the oldest daytime Emmy winner for his work on The Secret Lives of Orangutans, a docuseries following a multi-generation family of orangutans in Indonesia.
—Laura Millar, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
Building these rudimentary and temporary platforms—something modern gorillas, orangutans, and chimpanzees still do—would have offered protection from predators and blood-sucking insects.
—Literary Hub, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for orangutan
Cite this Entry
“Orangutan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orangutan. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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