great ape: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1scientific, formal, occasionally informal/humorous
Quick answer
What does “great ape” mean?
A member of the family Hominidae, including orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans, characterized by large brains, no tail, and complex social behavior.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A member of the family Hominidae, including orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans, characterized by large brains, no tail, and complex social behavior.
In broader contexts, can refer metaphorically to something primitive, powerful, or evolutionarily significant; sometimes used humorously to describe a large, clumsy person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the same term.
Connotations
Identical scientific connotations. In informal British English, might be slightly more common in humorous/affectionate insults.
Frequency
Equally frequent in scientific/academic contexts in both regions. Rare in everyday conversation.
Grammar
How to Use “great ape” in a Sentence
[great ape] + [verb: lives, uses, communicates][adjective: endangered, intelligent] + [great ape][preposition: of, for] + [great ape]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “great ape” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This behaviour has only been observed in species that great-ape.
adjective
British English
- The great-ape research centre published new findings.
American English
- The great ape conservation project needs more funding.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in ecotourism, conservation funding, or documentary production contexts.
Academic
Common in biology, anthropology, zoology, conservation science, and evolutionary psychology.
Everyday
Rare. Used when discussing nature documentaries, zoo visits, or evolution.
Technical
Standard taxonomic term in primatology and related fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great ape”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “great ape”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great ape”
- Using 'great ape' to refer to monkeys (e.g., baboons, macaques).
- Capitalizing it as a proper noun (unless starting a sentence).
- Omitting 'great' when the taxonomic meaning is intended.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, taxonomically, humans (genus Homo) are classified as great apes within the family Hominidae.
Great apes have no tails, generally larger bodies and brains, more complex social structures, and different shoulder anatomy suited for brachiation or knuckle-walking.
There are eight extant species: humans, two chimpanzee species (common chimp and bonobo), two gorilla species (eastern and western), and three orangutan species (Bornean, Sumatran, and Tapanuli).
Yes, it is the common name for the family Hominidae in taxonomy, though the formal classification is periodically revised.
A member of the family Hominidae, including orangutans, gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans, characterized by large brains, no tail, and complex social behavior.
Great ape: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈeɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˈeɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare] 'to go great ape' (slang, dated: to become very angry).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GREAT' = large size and intelligence, 'APE' = no tail, like us. A GREAT APE is a close relative.
Conceptual Metaphor
GREAT APE AS PRIMITIVE ANCESTOR / GREAT APE AS POWERFUL, UNREFINED BEING.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a great ape?