great ape
noun
: any of several large primates including the orangutan, gorilla, chimpanzee, and bonobo that are either placed in the same family (Hominidae) as humans or are grouped in a separate family (Pongidae)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The great ape’s immense strength is showcased as the man is unable to break free and keeps getting pulled closer to the cage. 
Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 8 June 2022 The great ape’s immense strength is in full force as the man is unable to break free, and is pulled closer to the cage. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 8 June 2022 Researchers later investigated the problem of spillback in great ape populations in Africa in detail. Quanta Magazine, 27 Apr. 2022 Darwin, who had never seen a great ape, was then formulating his theory of evolution. Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2022 Crook said that because of the variety of health conditions the gorilla faced, the zoo made modifications to the great ape habitat to help her navigate better. Palak Jayswal, The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Feb. 2022 Other great ape sites are currently collecting their own data on how, and whether, the incidence of infectious disease has changed since the beginning of the pandemic, Dr. Gillespie said. New York Times, 21 Feb. 2022 The western lowland gorilla, one of four subspecies of the great ape. NBC News, 26 Jan. 2022 Today, mountain gorillas are the only great ape whose numbers are growing. Lindsey Mcginnis, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2021 See More
Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 8 June 2022 The great ape’s immense strength is in full force as the man is unable to break free, and is pulled closer to the cage. Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 8 June 2022 Researchers later investigated the problem of spillback in great ape populations in Africa in detail. Quanta Magazine, 27 Apr. 2022 Darwin, who had never seen a great ape, was then formulating his theory of evolution. Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2022 Crook said that because of the variety of health conditions the gorilla faced, the zoo made modifications to the great ape habitat to help her navigate better. Palak Jayswal, The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 Feb. 2022 Other great ape sites are currently collecting their own data on how, and whether, the incidence of infectious disease has changed since the beginning of the pandemic, Dr. Gillespie said. New York Times, 21 Feb. 2022 The western lowland gorilla, one of four subspecies of the great ape. NBC News, 26 Jan. 2022 Today, mountain gorillas are the only great ape whose numbers are growing. Lindsey Mcginnis, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1771, in the meaning defined above