great ape

[greyt eyp]

noun

1. any extant or extinct member of the family Hominidae, or hominids: its extant species include humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.

great ape

noun

1. any of the larger anthropoid apes, such as the chimpanzee, orang-utan, or gorilla

great ape

1. See anthropoid ape

Word History and Origins

Origin of great ape¹

First recorded in 1770–75

Example Sentences

Their study suggests that the mouth-on-mouth kiss evolved more than 21 million years ago, and was something that the common ancestor of humans and other great apes probably indulged in.

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That view shifted when researchers analysed 51 fossil teeth from a range of hominids and great apes, including Australopithecus africanus, Paranthropus robustus, early Homo, Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens.

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These included seven hominid species, or "great apes,"** such as humans, gorillas and chimpanzees, and nine hylobatid species, or "lesser apes,"*** such as gibbons.

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The samples included both modern and archaic humans such as Neanderthals, early human ancestors like Australopithecus africanus, and extinct great apes including Gigantopithecus blacki.

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The researchers are currently developing its use in sanctuaries for great apes, including chimpanzees and gorillas.

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