monkey
13 synonyms for monkey, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes.
“At the zoo, a baby monkey clung tightly to its mother's back.”
How to use monkey
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
monkey around
monkey business
monkey with something
Etymology
Origin uncertain; likely traced through Middle Low German to a name given to a monkey character in medieval fables, possibly ultimately from an Arabic word for baboon.
Full origin of monkey →Frequently asked questions
What does “monkey” mean?
The word “monkey” means a small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes. In plain terms, a tree-dwelling primate — or, informally, a playful or mischievous person, or messing around with something.
How do you pronounce “monkey”?
“Monkey” is pronounced MUHNG-kee (/ˈmʌŋki/ in IPA).
How do you use “monkey” in a sentence?
Here is “monkey” used in a sentence: “The monkeys swung from branch to branch, chasing each other.”
What part of speech is “monkey”?
Depending on how it is used, “monkey” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “monkey” come from?
The word “monkey” comes from German. Origin uncertain; likely traced through Middle Low German to a name given to a monkey character in medieval fables, possibly ultimately from an Arabic word for baboon.
Is “monkey” a common word?
“Monkey” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “monkey” have?
“Monkey” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes.
What is the difference between a monkey and an ape?
The quickest visible difference is the tail: monkeys typically have tails, while apes — such as chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons — do not. Apes are also generally larger-bodied, and despite popular usage, a chimpanzee is an ape, not a monkey.
Why do people call children monkeys?
Applied to a child, monkey is an affectionate word for someone mischievous or playful, as in the British "cheeky monkey." It compares the child's energy and mischief to a monkey's, and it is teasing rather than insulting.
