kangaroo

noun

kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü 

plural kangaroos

: any of various herbivorous leaping marsupial mammals (family Macropodidae) of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands with a small head, large ears, long powerful hind legs, a long thick tail used as a support and in balancing, and rather small forelegs not used in locomotion

Illustration of kangaroo

Examples of kangaroo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The light green sweatshirt has kangaroo pockets and thumbholes in the sleeves to keep it in place. —Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024

With 20 colors and a convenient kangaroo pocket on the top, this is great for lounging or running errands. —Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 29 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, Brittany wore a kangaroo onesie and light brown winter boots. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024

Most testers comfortably buckled a backpack over the streamlined kangaroo pouch, but some mentioned that the bulky side pocket zippers could rub beneath the straps. —Kelly Bastone, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Guugu Yimidhirr (Australian aboriginal language of northern Queensland) gaŋurru

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing kangaroo

• kangaroo court
• kangaroo rat
• red kangaroo

Kids Definition

kangaroo

noun

kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü 

plural kangaroos

: any of numerous leaping marsupial mammals of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands that feed on plants and have a small head, long powerful hind legs, a long thick tail used as a support in standing or walking, and in the female a pouch on the abdomen in which the young are carried