They’re commonly called a group, but you can use the less generic term “shrewdness” and feel way cooler about it. Jane Rix / Shutterstock
The collective noun for apes is “shrewdness.” The Old English word “shrewd,” originally meaning “wicked” or “mischievous,” is the root of what we now use to describe a group of apes, likely referencing their high level of intelligence and problem-solving abilities.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, many such terms originated in the 15th century, including from texts like Chaucer’s poem and “The Book of Saint Albans.” This poetic use of language gave us a murder of crows, a pride of lions—and, yes, a shrewdness of apes.
