Illustration of orangutan
orangutan
noun
orang·u·tan ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ 
-ˈraŋ-gə-,
-ˌtan : a largely herbivorous arboreal anthropoid ape (Pongo pygmaeus) of Borneo and Sumatra that is about ²/₃ as large as the gorilla and has brown skin, long sparse reddish-brown hair, and very long arms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The crowd squealed upon realizing that Bonnie, an orangutan at the National Zoo, was peeing. 
James V. Grimaldi, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 The incident comes days after an orangutan grabbed a visitor through its cage at a zoo in Indonesia. Fox News, 13 June 2022 In Indonesia, which is plagued with peat fires, primatologist and ecologist Wendy Erb of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has studied smoke’s effect on another primate, the orangutan. Wired, 28 July 2022 The Bornean orangutan moved to the Valley from Omaha, Nebraska, in April and so far is not a fan of the extreme weather. Gloria Rebecca Gomez, The Arizona Republic, 15 June 2022 The incident appears to start as the man, later identified as Hasan Arifin, walks close to the case and the orangutan quickly reaches out to take ahold of his shirt. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 8 June 2022 The newborn orangutan born on Christmas Eve remains under the vigilant care of specialists at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Wire And Staff Reports, oregonlive, 5 Jan. 2022 An intense tug-of-war scenario ensues as the man tries to remove himself from the stranglehold of the orangutan's arms. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 8 June 2022 The orangutan's successful procedure comes a month before Oliver's 42nd birthday. Glenn Garner, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2022 See More
James V. Grimaldi, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 The incident comes days after an orangutan grabbed a visitor through its cage at a zoo in Indonesia. Fox News, 13 June 2022 In Indonesia, which is plagued with peat fires, primatologist and ecologist Wendy Erb of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has studied smoke’s effect on another primate, the orangutan. Wired, 28 July 2022 The Bornean orangutan moved to the Valley from Omaha, Nebraska, in April and so far is not a fan of the extreme weather. Gloria Rebecca Gomez, The Arizona Republic, 15 June 2022 The incident appears to start as the man, later identified as Hasan Arifin, walks close to the case and the orangutan quickly reaches out to take ahold of his shirt. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 8 June 2022 The newborn orangutan born on Christmas Eve remains under the vigilant care of specialists at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans. Wire And Staff Reports, oregonlive, 5 Jan. 2022 An intense tug-of-war scenario ensues as the man tries to remove himself from the stranglehold of the orangutan's arms. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 8 June 2022 The orangutan's successful procedure comes a month before Oliver's 42nd birthday. Glenn Garner, PEOPLE.com, 12 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Bazaar Malay (Malay-based pidgin), from Malay orang man + hutan forest
First Known Use
1691, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
orangutan
noun
orang·utan ə-ˈraŋ-ə-ˌtaŋ
-ˌtan
: a large ape of Borneo and Sumatra that lives in trees, eats mostly fruit, leaves, and other plant matter, and has very long arms, long reddish brown hair, and a nearly hairless face