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: any of a family (Hylobatidae) of agile brachiating tailless apes of southeastern Asia that are the smallest and most arboreal anthropoid apes
Examples of gibbon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The macaws close to the parking lot were raucous and talkative and the gibbons further in the park were loudly singing.
—The Indianapolis Star, 8 Apr. 2024
At Stone Zoo, that includes the jaguar, snow leopards, black bears and white-cheeked gibbons.
—Marc Ramirez, USA TODAY, 21 June 2024
Today, gibbons prefer soft fruits in the high canopies, while orangutans eat harder foods closer to the ground, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 June 2024
The study authors likened the difference between the ancient species to that of modern gibbons and orangutans, which live together in the forests of Borneo and Sumatra in a behavior called sympatry.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for gibbon
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gibbon.' 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
French
First Known Use
1774, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near gibbon
Cite this Entry
“Gibbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gibbon. Accessed 27 Sep. 2024.
Kids Definition
gibbon
noun
gib·bon
ˈgib-ən
: any of several tailless apes of southeastern Asia that are smaller and spend more time in trees than the gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on gibbon
Nglish: Translation of gibbon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gibbon
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