orangutan

noun

orang·​u·​tan ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ How to pronounce orangutan (audio)
-ˈraŋ-gə-,
-ˌtan How to pronounce orangutan (audio)
: a largely herbivorous arboreal anthropoid ape (Pongo pygmaeus) of Borneo and Sumatra that is about ²/₃ as large as the gorilla and has brown skin, long sparse reddish-brown hair, and very long arms

Illustration of orangutan

Illustration of orangutan

Examples of orangutan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The river bank includes wild orangutans, the almost extinct Borneo pygmy elephant, the proboscis monkey, and many reptiles and birds. Gemma Harris, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2024 Habitats for thousands of species, including orangutans, sun bears and pygmy elephants, were destroyed, putting some animals in danger of extinction. Patricia Cohen Jes Aznar, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Chimpanzees belong to the Hominidae family, which includes the great apes: gorillas, orangutans, bonobos, and humans. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 30 Jan. 2024 And for those whose passion for animals extends beyond just horses, the Louisville Zoo is home to over 1,100 different animals, with African lions, polar bears, and orangutans serving as some of its most majestic megafauna. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The team also noticed preferences for specific antics among species: Chimpanzees enjoyed slapping adults that were falling asleep, orangutans especially liked to pull hair and gorillas often kept it simple by shoving others. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 Zoo leadership tried to pair Bella and Segundo up years ago, and these orangutans just weren't a good fit. Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 7 Feb. 2024 The Power of Mama, Borneo Borneo’s first all-female firefighter team has been helping to restore local peatlands, protecting wildlife (including endangered orangutans) and empowering local women since 2022. Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Mar. 2024 That’s had deadly consequences for species like orangutans in Indonesia. Dionne Searcey, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'orangutan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Bazaar Malay (Malay-based pidgin), from Malay orang man + hutan forest

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of orangutan was in 1691

Dictionary Entries Near orangutan

Cite this Entry

“Orangutan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/orangutan. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

orangutan

noun
orang·​utan
ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ,
-ˌtan
: a large anthropoid ape of Borneo and Sumatra that is about ⅔ as large as a gorilla, eats mostly plants, lives in trees, and has very long arms, long thin reddish brown hair, and a nearly hairless face

More from Merriam-Webster on orangutan

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