marmoset

noun

mar·​mo·​set ˈmär-mə-ˌset How to pronounce marmoset (audio)
-ˌzet
: any of numerous small soft-furred South and Central American monkeys (family Callithricidae) with claws instead of nails on all the digits except the big toe

Illustration of marmoset

Illustration of marmoset

Examples of marmoset in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the grand scheme of things, that is the blink of a marmoset’s eye. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026 This meant that the pygmy marmosets would have nothing to eat. — Jessica Camille Aguirre, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025 Guests can purchase day passes to swim with dolphins, feed stingrays, and interact with otters and marmosets. — Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 23 July 2025 The stipulation ended about two and a half years ago, Fisher said, and the zoo now has about 35 monkeys, ranging from larger white-handed gibbons to pygmy marmosets, one of the smallest monkey species. — Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 18 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for marmoset

Word History

Etymology

Middle English marmusette kind of monkey, from Middle French marmoset grotesque figure, from marmouser to mumble, of imitative origin

First Known Use

1679, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of marmoset was in 1679

Rhymes for marmoset

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Browse Nearby Words

Marmosa
marmoset
marmot
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Cite this Entry

“Marmoset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marmoset. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

marmoset

noun
mar·​mo·​set ˈmär-mə-ˌset How to pronounce marmoset (audio)
-mə-ˌzet
: any of numerous South and Central American monkeys that have soft fur, a bushy tail, and claws instead of nails except on the big toe

More from Merriam-Webster on marmoset

Nglish: Translation of marmoset for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about marmoset

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