# gorilla

/ɡɝˈɪɫə/ (US) · /ɡəɹˈɪlɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gorilla
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR A2

a very large, strong ape with black hair that lives in the forests of Africa.

For teachers: a large, powerful primate of the genus Gorilla, native to the tropical forests of equatorial Africa.

- We watched a documentary about how a family of gorillas lives in the mountains.
- Conservation efforts in the region have led to a modest increase in the population of mountain gorillas despite ongoing habitat loss.

### 2. a tough person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a big, strong, and sometimes scary man who might be a guard or a bully.

For teachers: a large, physically imposing, or brutish man, often implying a role as a thug or enforcer.

- The club owner hired a couple of gorillas to stand by the door and check IDs.
- The politician was always flanked by a pair of silent gorillas who discouraged any journalists from approaching too closely.

### 3. a powerful organization

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a very large and powerful company that dominates its market.

For teachers: a dominant person or organization within a specific field; a market leader with overwhelming influence.

- It is hard for a small startup to compete with a 500-pound gorilla like that tech giant.
- The merger created an 800-pound gorilla in the telecommunications sector, effectively stifling competition for several years.

### 4. one thousand pounds

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang

a slang term for one thousand pounds.

For teachers: a slang term representing one thousand units of currency, specifically pounds sterling.

- The repairs on his car are going to cost him at least a gorilla.
- He managed to sell the vintage motorbike for a couple of gorillas, which was more than he had originally expected.

## Examples

- The gorilla ate leaves and bamboo in the forest.
- Visitors at the zoo watched the silverback gorilla lead his family group across the enclosure.
- Conservation efforts in Rwanda have led to a gradual increase in the population of mountain gorillas, though habitat loss remains a significant threat to their long-term survival.

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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.