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
Look at a chimpanzee, a gorilla or even most women, and that landmark all but disappears.
—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
The study adds to growing evidence that Homo floresiensis, which had a brain only slightly bigger than that of a chimpanzee, wasn’t as advanced as scientists previously believed.
—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
In this new study, a team from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom analyzed recordings from four orangutans, two gorillas, four chimpanzees, three bonobos, two gorillas, and four humans.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 June 2026
Researchers tickled 13 captive apes — including gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos — and recorded the results.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for chimpanzee
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Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2026
The study adds to growing evidence that Homo floresiensis, which had a brain only slightly bigger than that of a chimpanzee, wasn’t as advanced as scientists previously believed.
—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
3 July 2026
In this new study, a team from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom analyzed recordings from four orangutans, two gorillas, four chimpanzees, three bonobos, two gorillas, and four humans.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
25 June 2026
Researchers tickled 13 captive apes — including gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees and bonobos — and recorded the results.
—
ABC News,
25 June 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 7 Jul. 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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