orangutan

[ aw-rang-oo-tan, oh-rang-, uh-rang- ]

noun

1. either of two species of long-armed, arboreal great ape, the only extant members of the subfamily Ponginae, inhabiting Borneo ( Pongo pygmaeus ) and Sumatra ( P. abelii ): both species, including all three of the Bornean subspecies, are endangered.

Word History and Origins

Origin of orangutan¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; from Dutch orang outang, apparently from Malay: literally, “forest man” ( Malay orang “man, person” + (h)utan “forest”

Example Sentences

I have a very public love for orangutans.

From Los Angeles Times

And he said, “Vision of America? Ten years ago I was working with an orangutan. Now they think I’m Gandhi. I just took the best role available.”

From Los Angeles Times

A wounded orangutan recently made headlines for using a plant paste to heal an injury.

From BBC

A critically endangered orangutan born at Blackpool Zoo has been named after a mascot for an organisation which supports children with a chronic medical condition.

From BBC

Environmentalists have warned that as the capital expands, it may spill over into the habitats of endangered species such as proboscis monkeys, orangutans and gibbons.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ape
• baboon
• chimpanzee
• gorilla
• lemur