: a pale brown Asian macaque (Macaca mulatta) often used in medical research
called also rhesus, rhesus macaque
Examples of rhesus monkey in a Sentence
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As the story goes, a rhesus monkey — the same variety found at Silver Springs — was gifted to the Elks Club in Sanford by a traveling circus.
—
Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 July 2025
In 1949, psychologist Harry Harlow ran a now-famous experiment with rhesus monkeys.
—Victoria Vitchenco, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Simian virus 40 normally lives in wild rhesus monkeys — and in biology labs, where researchers have used it to study how DNA gets transcribed and copied.
—Kiona N. Smith, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The rhesus monkey’s origin in Florida is a mixed bag: Some were escapees, some released by irresponsible owners, and some escaped from research facilities when Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhesus monkey
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Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 July 2025
In 1949, psychologist Harry Harlow ran a now-famous experiment with rhesus monkeys.
—Victoria Vitchenco, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
Simian virus 40 normally lives in wild rhesus monkeys — and in biology labs, where researchers have used it to study how DNA gets transcribed and copied.
—Kiona N. Smith, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
The rhesus monkey’s origin in Florida is a mixed bag: Some were escapees, some released by irresponsible owners, and some escaped from research facilities when Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rhesus monkey
Cite this Entry
“Rhesus monkey.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhesus%20monkey. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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rhesus monkey
noun
rhe·sus monkey
ˌrē-səs- 
: a pale brown Asian monkey often used in medical research
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