great ape

noun

plural great apes
: any of several large primates including the orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo that are classified in the same family (Hominidae) as humans

Examples of great ape 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.
The only behavior in the great ape repertoire that fulfills the same form, function, and context as kissing is the last step of grooming. Byphie Jacobs, science.org, 28 Oct. 2024 Drawing on his knowledge of great ape behavior, Lameira suggests kissing got its start as a fur grooming ritual still observed in modern-day chimpanzees and other great apes. Byphie Jacobs, science.org, 28 Oct. 2024 In 2015, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recommended wearing masks in the presence of great apes, limiting the number of tourists per group to eight, restricting observation time to one hour, and maintaining a distance of seven metres between tourists and the animals. Harriet Marsden, The Week Uk, theweek, 5 Mar. 2024 The organization is dedicated to establishing sustainable, self-reliant projects that uplift the lives of local communities, champion the preservation of great apes, rehabilitate natural environments, and address human-wildlife conflicts. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 5 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for great ape 

Word History

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of great ape was in 1771

Dictionary Entries Near great ape

Cite this Entry

“Great ape.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20ape. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

great ape

noun
: any of a family of apes that includes the gorilla, orangutan, and chimpanzee

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