macaque

noun

ma·​caque mə-ˈkak  -ˈkäk 

: 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

Illustration of macaque

Examples of macaque in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, in November, 43 rhesus macaque monkeys escaped a testing facility in South Carolina. —Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025

Experts believe about 600 rhesus macaques live in Florida. —Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025

And in the macaques, the researchers had a mix of animals treated with different-sized cell patches, along with controls. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025

Environmentalists say the dam and its reservoir will destroy habitat for rare species, including the white-cheeked macaque and the red panda. —Byscience News Staff, science.org, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Portuguese macaco, from kaku mangabey, plural makaku, in one or more Bantu languages of Gabon and Congo

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing macaque

• crab-eating macaque
• long-tailed macaque
• stump-tailed macaque

Rhymes for macaque

• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock
• boardwalk
• catwalk
• cornstalk
• crosswalk
• deadlock
• feedstock
• fetlock
• flintlock
• goshawk

Kids Definition

macaque

noun

ma·​caque mə-ˈkak  -ˈkäk 

: 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

macaque

noun

ma·​caque mə-ˈkak  -ˈkäk 

: any of numerous short-tailed Old World monkeys of the genus Macaca and related genera chiefly of southern Asia

especially : rhesus monkey