What does chimp mean?
"Chimp" is an informal noun meaning a chimpanzee, one of the great apes of equatorial Africa and, alongside the bonobo, humanity's closest living relative. Chimpanzees are celebrated for their intelligence, complex social lives, tool use, and striking genetic similarity to humans, which makes them a perennial subject of research and public fascination. In everyday speech, "chimp" serves as a convenient shortening of the fuller word "chimpanzee," appearing naturally in conversation, journalism about animal behavior, wildlife documentaries, and casual writing about zoos or sanctuaries. Because it carries a relaxed, conversational tone, it is generally avoided in formal scientific literature, where the complete species name is preferred. The word can also be used figuratively for a person who behaves clumsily or playfully, though such uses risk being perceived as insulting. Familiarity with "chimp" helps readers navigate both popular media and everyday discussion of one of the animal kingdom's most remarkable creatures.
nounAn informal shortening of chimpanzee, a great ape native to equatorial Africa that is closely related to humans and known for its intelligence and use of tools.
- Informal term for a chimpanzee, a great ape of equatorial Africa closely related to humans.
"The zoo's newest chimp quickly learned to crack nuts with a stone."
"Researchers observed a young chimp using a stick to fish termites from a mound."
"She spent her summer volunteering at a sanctuary for rescued chimps."
Standard plural; occasionally used attributively without change, e.g. "a chimp troop."
"The reserve is home to over fifty chimps."
The word chimp was clipped straight off "chimpanzee" in the late nineteenth century — proof that even Victorian naturalists liked to talk fast.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chimp
The word "chimp" arose as a colloquial shortening of "chimpanzee," a term English borrowed in the eighteenth century, ultimately via French from a Bantu language of central Africa, often identified with Kikongo "kivili-chimpenze." The clipped form "chimp" emerged in British English during the late nineteenth century as part of a broader tendency to abbreviate familiar animal names. Its only close relative is the parent word "chimpanzee" itself.
How chimp is actually used
Register: informal or conversational; scientific and formal writing prefers "chimpanzee." The plural may be written "chimps" or occasionally "chimp" in zoological usage, but "chimps" is standard.
Easily confused with chimp
"Chimp" is simply the informal shortening of "chimpanzee," which is the full, more formal term for the animal.