rhesus monkey

noun

rhe·​sus monkey ˈrē-səs- How to pronounce rhesus monkey (audio)
: a pale brown Asian macaque (Macaca mulatta) often used in medical research

called also rhesus, rhesus macaque

Examples of rhesus monkey 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 rhesus monkey’s origin in Florida is a mixed bag: Some were escapees, some released by irresponsible owners, and some escaped from research facilities when Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992. Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025 All was peaceful until August 21, 1935, when as many as 175 rhesus monkeys escaped from their mountain, supposedly after a worker left a wooden plank over the moat that normally kept them in. Greg Daugherty, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024 The rhesus monkeys launched their great escape from the Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center on Wednesday at around 1 p.m. when a new employee left the door open while cleaning their enclosure, the Yemassee Police Department said in a statement. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2024 The company also oversees a colony of about 3,500 rhesus monkeys on the nearby Morgan Island, which is only accessible by boat at the mouth of the Combahee River. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for rhesus monkey

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Rhesus, genus of monkeys, from Latin, a mythical king of Thrace, from Greek Rhēsos

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhesus monkey was in 1829

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rhesus monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhesus%20monkey. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

rhesus monkey

noun
rhe·​sus monkey ˌrē-səs- How to pronounce rhesus monkey (audio)
: a pale brown Asian monkey often used in medical research

Medical Definition

rhesus monkey

noun
: a pale brown Asian monkey of the genus Macaca (M. mulatta) often used in medical research

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