Illustration of macaque
: any of a genus (Macaca) of chiefly Asian monkeys typically having a sturdy build and including some short-tailed or tailless forms
especially
: rhesus monkey
Examples of macaque in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pre-exposure antibody prophylaxis protects macaques from severe influenza.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
The rhesus macaques were of Chinese- or Indian-origin.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
But being recognized as possessing rights tends to be a necessary but not sufficient condition for being recognized as a potential property owner: a crested macaque has certain rights, including the right not to be treated cruelly, but cannot hold property.
—Michelle Weber, Longreads, 13 Dec. 2024
Nonnative monkey species including rhesus macaques, vervet monkeys and squirrel monkeys can cause harm to humans with infections such as herpes B being transferrable through scratches and bites.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for macaque 
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
The rhesus macaques were of Chinese- or Indian-origin.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025
But being recognized as possessing rights tends to be a necessary but not sufficient condition for being recognized as a potential property owner: a crested macaque has certain rights, including the right not to be treated cruelly, but cannot hold property.
—Michelle Weber, Longreads, 13 Dec. 2024
Nonnative monkey species including rhesus macaques, vervet monkeys and squirrel monkeys can cause harm to humans with infections such as herpes B being transferrable through scratches and bites.
—Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 18 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for macaque
Dictionary Entries Near macaque
Cite this Entry
“Macaque.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/macaque. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
: any of various monkeys mostly from Asia that includes some with either short or no tails
especially
: rhesus monkey
Etymology
French, from Portuguese macaco, from makaku, plural of kaku, name for an African monkey in one or more Bantu languages of Gabon and Congo
Medical Definition
: any of numerous short-tailed Old World monkeys of the genus Macaca and related genera chiefly of southern Asia
especially
: rhesus monkey
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