New World monkey

[ noo wurld muhng-kee, nyoo ]

noun

1. any of various platyrrhine primates inhabiting forests from Mexico to Argentina, with arboreal habits and typically having a hairy face, widely separated nostrils, long arms, and a long tail, which is prehensile in a great many species, including howlers, spider monkeys, and woolly monkeys: in contrast, no species of Old World monkey has a prehensile tail.

New World monkey

noun

1. any monkey of the family Cebidae, of Central and South America, having widely separated nostrils: many are arboreal and have a prehensile tail Compare Old World monkey

Word History and Origins

Origin of New World monkey¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

There are more than 500 species of primates, including lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, Old and New World monkeys, the "small apes" - gibbons and siamangs - and the "great apes" - orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos.

From Reuters

Birds, some bats, ferrets, and New World monkeys all separately made the same evolutionary change.

From Science Magazine

The endangered New World monkey weighs less than two pounds.

From New York Times

Old World and New World monkeys were next.

From Literature

Among some modern primates - namely lemurs, lorises, and tarsiers, and two New World monkeys - the second toe on each foot has a toilet claw.

From Scientific American