1. a mature male gorilla with gray or silver hair on its back
2. a dominant or experienced older man in a group or organization
Usage: informal

Examples

• The silverback gorilla beat his chest to assert dominance over the troop.
• Wildlife photographers waited patiently to capture images of the massive silverback.
• The zoo’s silverback weighed over 400 pounds and was the star attraction.
• In the corporate world, he was considered the silverback of the marketing department.
• The silverback led his family group through the dense jungle in search of food.
• Young gorillas learn important survival skills by watching the silverback.