gorilla

American  

[guh-ril-uh] / gəˈrɪl ə /

noun

1. a terrestrial, largely vegetarian great ape of the genus Gorilla , inhabiting central African forests: possessing great upper body strength, with arms longer and more muscular than its legs, it is noted for its knuckle-walking and is larger than any other living primate.

2. an ugly, brutish person.

3. Slang. a hoodlum or thug, especially one who threatens or inflicts violence.

   Like any mob boss, he sent his gorillas to do the dirty work.

4. Disparaging and Offensive. (used as a slur against a member of a racial or ethnic minority group, especially a Black person.)

---

gorilla British  

/ ɡəˈrɪlə, ɡəˈrɪlaɪn /

noun

1. the largest anthropoid ape, Gorilla gorilla, inhabiting the forests of central W Africa. It is stocky and massive, with a short muzzle and coarse dark hair

2. informal a large, strong, and brutal-looking man

---

Sensitive Note

See simianization.

Other Word Forms

• gorilla-like adjective
• gorillalike adjective
• gorillian adjective
• gorilline adjective
• gorilloid adjective

Etymology

Origin of gorilla

First recorded in 1845–50; from New Latin, from Greek Goríllās (accusative plural) name for the females of a hairy tribe encountered in an account of a voyage along the coast of Africa made by the Carthaginian Hanno in the 5th century b.c.

Explanation

A gorilla is the world's largest primate — the kind of great, powerful ape you might see on an African safari. The stocky, large-headed gorilla is one of the most impressive animals you'll come across in the primate area of a zoo. Gorillas are vegetarians whose native habitat is the forest of central west Africa. The word gorilla is sometimes also used to refer to a big, aggressive man. It was first coined in the 19th century by a United States missionary to Africa, from the Greek word gorillai — the word Carthaginian explorer Hanno used to mean "wild, hairy people" in 500 B.C.E.

Example Sentences

But it’s not an easy decision, Suk added, because Meta “is the 800-pound gorilla in the room” when it comes to online advertising.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

Strong "gorilla" pincers are used for picking up heavier boxes or, for more delicate items, a suction device can be used.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

BlackRock has long been the 800-pound gorilla of the ETF industry, with more than $5 trillion in assets.

From Barron's • Jan. 22, 2026

The most recent primate was born Nov. 22 to 31-year-old N’djia and silverback Kelly, 38, whose daughter Angela in 2020 was the first gorilla born at the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025

The man cleaning the gorilla cage shut off the water and started to roll up the hose when he heard Mr. Pignati calling.

From "The Pigman" by Paul Zindel

Related Words

• assassin
• bandit
• bully
• criminal
• gangster
• goon
• gunman
• hooligan
• mobster
• murderer
• rowdy
• troublemaker