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spider monkey

American  

noun

  • spider monkeys
    plural
  1. any of several tropical American monkeys of the genus Ateles, having a slender body, long, slender limbs, and a long, prehensile tail: some are endangered.


spider monkey British  

noun

  1. any of several arboreal New World monkeys of the genus Ateles, of Central and South America, having very long legs, a long prehensile tail, and a small head

  2. a rare related monkey, Brachyteles arachnoides, of SE Brazil

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms


Etymology

Origin of spider monkey

First recorded in 1755–65


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A baby spider monkey discovered by the California Highway Patrol this week is in critical condition, but the Oakland Zoo hopes she will make a full recovery.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 17, 2025

Not only is it illegal to own primates as pets in California, but it’s also especially dangerous to own a baby spider monkey, experts say.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 1, 2025

Like the spider monkey, if a species relies on a specific food or a particular quality of tree, those needs will require conservation prioritization.

From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2024

At least six spider monkey species living in Central and South America are considered endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2023

No, that’s not right; I actually fell over my own feet, which felt like they were being remote-controlled by a spider monkey during a sleep-deprivation experiment.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen

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