tamarin

noun

tam·​a·​rin ˈta-mə-rən How to pronounce tamarin (audio)
-ˌran
: any of numerous small chiefly South American monkeys (genus Saguinus) that are related to the marmosets and have silky fur, a long tail, and lower canine teeth that are longer than the incisors

Examples of tamarin 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.
But some other primates, including tamarins and bush babies, must birth infants whose head is almost twice as large as what their mom’s pelvis seems to accommodate. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 29 June 2026 Only a small number of the world’s animals, including lemurs and tamarins, have similar gustatory proclivities. — Jessica Camille Aguirre, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Jan. 2025 In the past, the Small Mammals Building has been the home of such animals as fruit bats, sloths, porcupines, armadillos, tamarins, otters, lemurs and mongooses. — Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025 These discoveries have bridged the gap between Africa’s primate ancestors and the diverse array of New World monkeys thriving today, including capuchins, howler monkeys and tamarins. — Scott Travers, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tamarin

Word History

Etymology

French tamary, tamarin, perhaps of Tupian origin

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tamarin was in 1780

Phrases Containing tamarin

Browse Nearby Words

tamarillo
tamarin
tamarind
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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