gorilla

The word “gorilla” means the largest living primate, a powerful ape native to the forests of Central Africa. In plain terms, the huge ape, or informally, a big tough man (often a bodyguard-type figure).

“Gorilla” is pronounced guh-RIHL-uh (/ɡəˈɹɪl.ə/ in IPA).

Here is “gorilla” used in a sentence: “The silverback gorilla stood guard over its troop.”

“Gorilla” is a noun.

The word “gorilla” comes from Ancient Greek. Traces back through Ancient Greek Górillai, a name reportedly used by the Carthaginian explorer Hanno for a tribe of hairy people he encountered on the West African coast — the word was later borrowed for the ape.

“Gorilla” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Gorilla” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the largest living primate, a powerful ape native to the forests of Central Africa.

A gorilla is specifically the largest living primate, native to the forests of Central Africa, distinguishing it by size from smaller great apes such as chimpanzees and orangutans, which live in different regions and have different builds. All are great apes, but "gorilla" refers to this particular, most powerful species.

"Gorilla" refers to the large ape, while "guerrilla" refers to an irregular fighter engaged in unconventional warfare; the two words are unrelated in meaning despite sounding alike. Confusing the spellings is a common mistake since the words are homophones for many speakers.

Informally, "gorilla" can describe a large, physically intimidating man, especially one used as muscle, drawing on the animal's size and strength as a comparison. This usage is casual and evokes physical power rather than any actual similarity to the animal.