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Definition of gibbon

gibbon

/ˈɡɪb.ən/
gib · bon
Plural:gibbons
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gibbon Lexical Profile

gibbon Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various small, slender apes of the family Hylobatidae, native to the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, characterized by their lack of a tail and exceptional ability to swing rapidly through the tree canopy using their long arms.

Example

"Researchers spent weeks in the Sumatran rainforest studying the complex morning songs of the local gibbon population."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gibbon

• Rhymes for gibbon

• Nearby Words

giantlike
gibber
gibberish
gibbon
gibbon falls
gibe
giblet

Word Origin & Etymology

From French 'gibbon', coined in the 18th century by naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, allegedly from a local East Indian language, though the precise native source remains unverified.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gibbon. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gibbon
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