View synonyms for

orangutan

[ aw-rang-oo-tan, oh-rang-, uh-rang- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

either of two species of long-armed, arboreal great ape, the only extant members of the subfamily Ponginae, inhabiting Borneo ( Pongo pygmaeus ) and Sumatra ( P. abelii ): both species, including all three of the Bornean subspecies, are endangered.

Discover More

Word History and Origins

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Dutch orang outang, apparently from Malay: literally, “forest man” ( Malay orang “man, person” + (h)utan “f�ǰ��”

Discover More

Compare Meanings

How does orangutan compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

orangutan vs. chimpanzee

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

They compared human responses to the visual responses of five chimpanzees, two gorillas, and two orangutans at the Basel Zoo.

From

I have a very public love for orangutans.

From

And he said, “Vision of America? Ten years ago I was working with an orangutan. Now they think I’m Gandhi. I just took the best role available.”

From

A wounded orangutan recently made headlines for using a plant paste to heal an injury.

From

A critically endangered orangutan born at Blackpool Zoo has been named after a mascot for an organisation which supports children with a chronic medical condition.

From

Related Words

orangewood orang-utan

Browse