bonobo
bonobo Lexical Profile
bonobo Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An endangered species of great ape endemic to the Congo Basin in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, distinguished from the closely related chimpanzee by its more slender build, matriarchal social structure, and frequent use of socio-sexual behavior to resolve conflicts.
"Researchers spent months in the dense rainforests of the Congo Basin observing how bonobos share food and cooperate to maintain peace within their communities."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although historically referred to as the 'pygmy chimpanzee,' the bonobo is recognized today as a distinct species from the common chimpanzee, notable for its vastly different social structure and behavior.
• Rhymes for bonobo
Word Origin & Etymology
The exact origin of the word is uncertain, but it is widely believed to be a 1920s shipping misspelling of 'Bolobo', a town on the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo where early specimens were collected.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.