gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈri-lə How to pronounce gorilla (audio)
1
: a very large typically black-colored anthropoid ape (Gorilla gorilla) of equatorial Africa that has a stocky body with broad shoulders and long arms and is less erect and has smaller ears than the chimpanzee
2
a
: an ugly or brutal man
b
: thug, goon

Examples of gorilla in a Sentence

She hired some gorilla as her bodyguard. the loan shark sent a couple of gorillas to “convince” him to pay up
Recent Examples on the Web The video shows the gorilla, Elmo, being released back into his enclosure at the Fort Worth Zoo, where two zookeepers were actively working. Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 8 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 The median life expectancy for male gorillas in captivity is nearly 33 years old and 39 for female gorillas, according to records kept by the Gorilla Species Survival Plan, which manages gorilla care in U.S. zoos. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Dec. 2023 But today there are around 4,000 species of snakes, ranging in size from green anacondas that weigh more than adult gorillas to thread snakes that are lighter than a paperclip. Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 23 Feb. 2024 Zoo staff reported that introductions went well and the gorillas seem relaxed around each other. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2024 After the match, racist comments were left on the 25-year-old Upamecano’s Instagram page, including verbal abuse and monkey and gorilla emojis. George Ramsay, CNN, 15 Feb. 2024 Harambe dragged the boy around the enclosure, and the child was with the gorilla for about 10 minutes. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 22 Jan. 2024 Some critics also compared the photo, which included James with his arms around Bündchen, to racist imagery of a gorilla carrying a white damsel that was displayed on a World War I enlistment poster. Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gorilla.' 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

New Latin, from Greek Gorillai, plural, a tribe of hairy women mentioned in an account of a voyage around Africa

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gorilla was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near gorilla

Cite this Entry

“Gorilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gorilla. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gorilla

noun
go·​ril·​la gə-ˈril-ə How to pronounce gorilla (audio)
: a typically black ape of equatorial Africa that is much larger but stands less erect than the related chimpanzee
Etymology

derived from Greek Gorillai, a name used by ancient explorers for what they thought was a tribe of hairy women in Africa

More from Merriam-Webster on gorilla

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