gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈri-lə 

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

Synonyms

• bully
• gangbanger
• gangsta
• gangster
• goon
• hood
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• mobster
• mug
• plug-ugly
• punk
• roughneck
• rowdy
• ruffian
• thug
• tough
• toughie
• toughy
• yob [British]
• yobbo [British]

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 reserve’s common spaces are just as gorgeous as the private residences and are ideal for regaling your fellow travelers with your daily gorilla stories. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024

Moroccan was later seen wearing a full gorilla suit as the family walked around together. —Emma Aerin Becker, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Anything from menu features, cocktail inspiration, point-of-sale materials, social media campaigns, gorilla marketing and influencer partnerships will boost your growth and entice on- or off-premise locations to give you a shot. 6. —Patrick Shorb, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2024

In one example, Emerson said a patron grabbed a lime from behind a bar and threw it at the face of his colleague who was in the gorilla suit that night. —Tiney Ricciardi, The Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing gorilla

• lowland gorilla
• mountain gorilla
• 800-pound gorilla

Kids Definition

gorilla

noun

go·​ril·​la gə-ˈril-ə 

: 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