rhesus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1scientific/technical
Quick answer
What does “rhesus” mean?
A small, pale brown macaque monkey native to South and Southeast Asia, widely used in medical and biological research.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, pale brown macaque monkey native to South and Southeast Asia, widely used in medical and biological research.
Refers to the Rhesus macaque species (Macaca mulatta) and, by extension, to the Rhesus factor (Rh factor) in human blood groups, named after the monkey in which it was first discovered.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical scientific/medical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in general discourse, but standard in relevant scientific fields in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “rhesus” in a Sentence
The [NOUN] is a rhesus.She has a [ADJ] rhesus factor.They studied the behaviour of the rhesus [NOUN].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rhesus” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The patient was rhesus positive.
- A rhesus monkey habitat was established.
American English
- She is rhesus negative.
- The rhesus research facility is state-of-the-art.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in biological, medical, and psychological research papers.
Everyday
Rare, except in discussions about blood donation, pregnancy (Rh factor), or wildlife documentaries.
Technical
Standard term in primatology, immunohaematology (blood banking), and experimental psychology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rhesus”
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈreɪsəs/ or /ˈrɛsəs/.
- Using 'rhesus' to refer to any monkey, not specifically Macaca mulatta.
- Misspelling as 'rhesis' or 'rhesas'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its most common everyday use is in 'Rhesus factor' (Rh factor), a classification for human blood types, named after the monkey species in which it was first identified.
It is a modern Latin genus name, Rhesus, chosen arbitrarily by the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Audebert in 1797. It is not related to the mythological King Rhesus of Thrace.
There is no difference. 'Rh' is simply an abbreviation of 'Rhesus'. Both terms mean the same thing in the context of blood typing.
No, 'rhesus' is exclusively a noun (for the monkey) or functions as part of a compound adjective ('rhesus-positive'). It has no standard verbal use.
A small, pale brown macaque monkey native to South and Southeast Asia, widely used in medical and biological research.
Rhesus is usually scientific/technical in register.
Rhesus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈriːsəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈriːsəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Rhesus' as 'Research-us' – these monkeys are famously used in research.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE RHESUS MONKEY IS A LABORATORY MODEL (for human biology/behaviour).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'rhesus' NOT typically used?