orangutan

noun

orang·​u·​tan ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ 

-ˈraŋ-gə-,

-ˌtan 

: any of several largely herbivorous arboreal anthropoid apes (Pongo pygmaeus, P. abelii, and P. tapanuliensis) of Borneo and Sumatra that are about ²/₃ as large as the gorilla and have brown skin, long sparse reddish-brown hair, and very long arms

Illustration of orangutan

Examples of orangutan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Philadelphia Zoo welcomed a new baby Sumatran orangutan for the first time in 15 years. —Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 12 July 2024

The bottom line: Robert Shumaker, a great ape researcher and official with the Indianapolis Zoo, lets chimpanzees and orangutans play touch-screen games like tic-tac-toe to visitors' delight. —Andrew Keatts, Axios, 24 July 2024

Now a study published in Animal Behaviour reveals that young orangutans perfect this vital task over the course of seven years. —Sierra Bouchér, Scientific American, 6 June 2024

An old video of a Virgina zookeeper and a special orangutan has resurfaced and is going viral because of the incredible display of the ape's adaptability. —Emilee Coblentz, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Bazaar Malay (Malay-based pidgin), from Malay orang man + hutan forest

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

orangutan

noun

orang·​utan

ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ,

-ˌtan

: a large anthropoid ape of Borneo and Sumatra that is about ⅔ as large as a gorilla, eats mostly plants, lives in trees, and has very long arms, long thin reddish brown hair, and a nearly hairless face