anthropoid ape: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical / Scientific / Formal
Quick answer
What does “anthropoid ape” mean?
A primate belonging to the suborder Anthropoidea, which includes monkeys, apes, and humans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A primate belonging to the suborder Anthropoidea, which includes monkeys, apes, and humans.
Any of the tailless apes (such as chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons) most closely resembling humans in physical structure and evolutionary lineage; often used to contrast 'great apes' or 'lesser apes' with monkeys.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both dialects; the term belongs to a shared scientific/technical lexicon.
Connotations
Slightly more common in historical or popular science texts in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, confined to specific academic or documentary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “anthropoid ape” in a Sentence
[The] anthropoid ape + VERB[The] anthropoid ape is ADJECTIVEN + of [the] anthropoid apeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anthropoid ape” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The anthropoid ape characteristics were evident in the fossil.
- They studied anthropoid ape behaviour.
American English
- The anthropoid ape features were clearly defined.
- This is a key anthropoid ape trait.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare, except in contexts like documentary production or scientific publishing.
Academic
Primary context. Used in anthropology, biology, primatology, and evolutionary studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Replaced by simpler terms like 'ape' or specific names (gorilla, chimpanzee).
Technical
Core context, though often replaced by more precise taxonomic terms.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anthropoid ape”
- Using 'anthropoid ape' to refer to monkeys (which have tails).
- Using it in casual conversation where 'ape' is sufficient.
- Misspelling as 'antropoid' (missing the 'h').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Biologically, humans (genus Homo) belong to the hominid family, which is within the anthropoid ape lineage. In common parlance, the term is usually reserved for non-human apes.
Key differences include the absence of a tail in apes, generally larger body size, more complex brains, and different shoulder anatomy suited for brachiation (arm-swinging) in many apes.
Modern taxonomy uses more precise family and genus names (e.g., Hominidae, Pongidae). 'Anthropoid ape' is a somewhat outdated, broad-brush descriptive term from earlier evolutionary biology.
Yes, gibbons (the 'lesser apes') are part of the anthropoid ape group, distinct from the 'great apes' (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, humans).
A primate belonging to the suborder Anthropoidea, which includes monkeys, apes, and humans.
Anthropoid ape is usually technical / scientific / formal in register.
Anthropoid ape: in British English it is pronounced /ˈanθrəpɔɪd eɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænθrəˌpɔɪd eɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. The term itself is literal.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ANTHROPOID APE = 'Anthro-' (human) + '-oid' (resembling) + 'ape' = an ape that resembles a human.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MISSING LINK (historical metaphor for evolutionary connection); THE MIRROR (reflecting human origins and nature).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically considered an anthropoid ape?