monkey
MUHNG-kee
Monkey (noun) means a small to medium-sized primate, typically with a tail, distinct from apes. Example: “At the zoo, a baby monkey clung tightly to its mother's back.”
noun
1
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."
"The monkeys swung from branch to branch, chasing each other."
"A monkey stole a tourist's sunglasses right off his face."
2
A mischievous or playful person, especially a child.
"Our youngest is a cheeky little monkey who hides my slippers every morning."
"Come here, you monkey, and give your grandad a hug!"
"Stop being such a little monkey and eat your dinner."
verb
1
To fiddle or tamper with something, usually in an informal or careless way.
"Someone has been monkeying with my bike and now the brakes feel odd."
"He likes to monkey around with old radios in his garage."
"Don't monkey with the settings unless you know what you're doing."
How to use monkey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tree-dwelling primate — or, informally, a playful or mischievous person, or messing around with something.
Common pairings
monkey around
monkey business
monkey with something
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Word forms
- Plural
- monkeys, monkies
- Third person singular
- monkeys
- Past tense
- monkeyed, monkied
Fill the gap
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At the zoo, a baby _____ clung tightly to its mother's back.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for monkey
See all rhymes for 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.
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