monkey

[ muhng-kee ]

noun

, plural mon·keys.

1. any of more than 250 species of simian primates belonging to the two distinct lines of New World monkeys and Old World monkeys.
2. the fur of certain species of such long-haired animals.
3. a person whose behavior is likened to such an animal, as a mischievous, agile child or a mimic:

   My nephew is the most adorable little monkey—he'll try to climb anything he can reach.

4. Disparaging and Offensive. (used as a slur against a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, especially a Black person.)
5. a dance, deriving from the twist, in which the partners move their hands as if climbing a pole and jerk their heads back and forth.
6. Slang. an addiction to narcotics.
7. any of various mechanical devices, as the ram of a pile driver.
8. Coal Mining. a small passageway or opening.
9. British Slang. the sum of 500 pounds.
10. Australian Informal. a sheep.

verb (used without object)

, mon·keyed, mon·key·ing.

1. Informal. to play or trifle idly; fool (often followed by around or with ).

verb (used with object)

, mon·keyed, mon·key·ing.

1. to imitate; ape; mimic.
2. to mock.

monkey

/ ˈmʌŋkɪ /

noun

1. any of numerous long-tailed primates excluding the prosimians (lemurs, tarsiers, etc): comprise the families Cercopithecidae (Old World monkeys), Cebidae (New World monkeys), and Callithricidae (marmosets) See Old World monkey New World monkey simian
2. any primate except man
3. a naughty or mischievous person, esp a child
4. the head of a pile-driver ( monkey engine ) or of some similar mechanical device
5. modifier nautical denoting a small light structure or piece of equipment contrived to suit an immediate purpose

   a monkey foresail

   a monkey bridge

6. slang.
   an addict's dependence on a drug
7. slang.
   a butt of derision; someone made to look a fool (esp in the phrase make a monkey of )
8. slang.
   (esp in bookmaking) £500
9. slang.
   $500
10. slang.
    a sheep
11. give a monkey's slang.
    to care about or regard as important

    who gives a monkey's what he thinks?

12. have a monkey on one's back slang.
    1. to be troubled by a persistent problem
    2. to be addicted to a drug

verb

1. intr; usually foll by around, with, etc to meddle, fool, or tinker
2. rare.
   tr to imitate; ape

Sensitive Note

See simianization.

Other Words From

• mon·key·ish adjective
• mon·key·ish·ly adverb
• mon·key·ish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of monkey¹

First recorded in 1520–30; origin uncertain; possibly from Low German; compare Middle Low German Moneke (name of son of Martin the Ape in the story of Reynard the Fox ), equivalent to mone- (akin to obsolete French monne “she-ape,” Spanish, Portuguese mono “ape”) + -ke diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of monkey¹

C16: perhaps from Low German; compare Middle Low German Moneke name of the ape's son in the tale of Reynard the Fox

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. a monkey on one's back, Slang.
   1. an addiction to a drug or drugs; narcotic dependency.
   2. an enduring and often vexing habit or urge.
   3. a burdensome problem, situation, or responsibility; personal affliction or hindrance.
2. make a monkey out of, to cause to appear ridiculous; make a fool of. Also make a monkey of.

More idioms and phrases containing monkey

• fool (monkey) around
• make a fool (monkey) of
• more fun than a barrel of monkeys
• throw a monkey wrench

Example Sentences

Musk has already said the project allowed a monkey to control a computer device with its mind, and as the New York Times reported in 2019, Neuralink has demonstrated a system with 1,500 electrodes connected to a lab rat.

From Vox

On the whole, monkeys in the groups that faced one or two stressors clung less to their mothers and more readily explored their new surroundings — showing less anxiety — than both the no-stress and the two high-stress groups.

From Science News

Studies in rodents and monkeys had shown that adversity early in life throws the HPA axis off-kilter.

From Science News For Students

So the team studied squirrel monkeys that had not yet reached puberty.

From Science News For Students

Remdesivir, however, was more potent in human lung cells, while GS-441524 was more potent in the monkey cells.

From Science News

This has occurred with bean bag chairs, children's sweaters, and the Coco The Monkey Teething Toy.

From The Daily Beast

Using skewers/tooth picks, attach monkey bread, Cinnabons, and churros to battleship.

From The Daily Beast

In July 1925, the town hosted the Scopes Monkey Trial, a landmark case in the history of creationism.

From The Daily Beast

The monkey seemed to be sticking his tongue out at me in defiance.

From The Daily Beast

I had no way of knowing—or even asking—if they had mistaken this monkey-faced avatar for me.

From The Daily Beast

But the greatest danger I ever underwent in that kingdom was from a monkey, who belonged to one of the clerks of the kitchen.

From Project Gutenberg

So when Yung Pak's father made him a present of a monkey—a real monkey—alive—he just danced with glee.

From Project Gutenberg

After a little while Yung Pak got used to these "monkey shines," and he knew that his pet would not stay away long after mealtime.

From Project Gutenberg

And here M. Barbiche suddenly threw himself into the attitude of an enraged and aggressive monkey.

From Project Gutenberg

Every night when he goes to bed, the monkey curls himself up by his side and lies there till morning.

From Project Gutenberg

What Is The Plural Of Monkey?

Plural word for monkey

The plural form of monkey is monkeys (not monkies). Words that end with a –y preceded by a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) are made plural by adding an -s at the end, as in chimney/chimneys and ray/rays. 

This can be confusing, because the plural form of words that end with a –y and are preceded by a consonant is made by changing the ending to -ies, as in party/parties, candy/candies, and duty/duties.