What does "orangutan" mean?
An arboreal ape, characterised by their shaggy reddish-brown coat and long arms, which comprise the genus Pongo, native to Borneo and Sumatra.
Orangutan
/əˈɹæŋ.əˌtæn/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An arboreal ape, characterised by their shaggy reddish-brown coat and long arms, which comprise the genus Pongo, native to Borneo and Sumatra.
- Grammar: orangutan is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: ape, arboreal primate, conservation concern, endangered primate.
- Useful contrasts: human, nonprimate, recovered population.
- Usage evidence: "What anthropoid would your girlfriend be most like?" "What a question... Well, um... An orangutan, I guess."
How to use "orangutan"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "orangutan" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "orangutan" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "orangutan" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "orangutan" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "orangutan" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ape" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An arboreal ape, characterised by their shaggy reddish-brown coat and long arms, which comprise the genus Pongo, native to Borneo and Sumatra.
- 2 large long-armed ape of Borneo and Sumatra having arboreal habits wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
""What anthropoid would your girlfriend be most like?" "What a question... Well, um... An orangutan, I guess.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "orangutan"?
Common synonyms include: ape, arboreal primate, conservation concern, endangered primate, gorilla, great ape.
How do you use "orangutan" in a sentence?
"What anthropoid would your girlfriend be most like?" "What a question... Well, um... An orangutan, I guess."
How do you pronounce "orangutan"?
Pronounced /əˈɹæŋ.əˌtæn/.
Etymology
Probably via Dutch orang-oetan, orang-oetang, apparently from Malay orang hutan, orang utan (literally “forest man”), from orang (“person, man”) + hutan (“forest”), although as a term for the animal it is attested only recently (earlier and preferred terms being mawas and mayas). As there is originally no evidence for its usage, except occasionally literally, it must be assumed to have been regional, or a descriptive collocation used to explain the animal to early travellers. Forms in -ng are alterations after the first element, orang. The name orangutan has been used in Old Javanese texts, notably in Rāmāyaṇa and Smaradahana, in the form of uraṅutan and wuraṅutan. Its usage to refer to the apes in these texts (from as early as the 9th century CE) has been seen as a refutation of claims that the name orangutan originates from a European source.