Monkeyism

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A mocking label for the belief that humans descended from apes ; conduct or mannerisms that copy the playful, mimicking habits of monkeys
2. A derogatory phrase for the idea that people evolved from primates ; antics or imitative behavior resembling those of a monkey
3. An insulting way of referring to the notion that mankind arose from simian ancestors ; mischievous, imitative conduct typical of a monkey

Etymology: "Monkeyism" is formed from "monkey" and the suffix "-ism", which in English turns a noun into a name for a doctrine, system, or characteristic behaviour. The suffix itself comes from Greek "-ismos" through Latin and French, and it is attached freely to ordinary nouns, which is why coinages like this one are easy to form. Here the base is "monkey", so the word names the qualities or conduct associated with monkeys, or a view of humans as having descended from them. Because the word is a transparent compound of two familiar parts, its meaning follows directly from them, and the sense most often intended is the playful or insulting one: behaviour that is mischievous, imitative, or unruly. The construction is no more mysterious than other formations such as "dogmatism" or "babyism", both built the same way on a plain noun.