# chimpanzee

/tʃɪmˈpænzi/ (US) · /tʃˌɪmpɐnzˈiː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chimpanzee
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR B1

a smart, black-haired ape from Africa that lives in groups and is very similar to humans.

For teachers: a species of great ape within the genus Pan, recognized as the closest extant relative to humans along with the bonobo.

- The chimpanzee used a long stick to get insects out of a tree.
- Field researchers observed the chimpanzee community for several months to document their sophisticated tool-use and social hierarchies.

Usage: Often shortened to 'chimp' in informal contexts.

## Examples

- The chimpanzee used a stick to fish for termites.
- Researchers observed a chimpanzee using tools to open nuts, showing a level of intelligence previously thought to be unique to humans.
- The study of chimpanzee social dynamics has provided profound insights into the evolutionary roots of human cooperation and conflict resolution within complex group structures.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.