marsupial

1 of 2

noun

mar·​su·​pi·​al mär-ˈsü-pē-əl 

: any of an order (Marsupialia) of mammals comprising kangaroos, wombats, bandicoots, opossums, and related animals that do not develop a true placenta and that usually have a pouch on the abdomen of the female which covers the teats and serves to carry the young

marsupial

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a marsupial

2

: of, relating to, or forming a marsupium

Examples of marsupial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But within this unforgiving landscape, made famous by Steve Irwin’s Crocodile Hunter, are braids of rivers, bouncing marsupials, rolling mountains, ancient reptiles, coastal cliffs dwarfing California’s Big Sur, and the oldest continuous living culture in the world, all ready to be explored. —Dalton Johnson, Robb Report, 21 Jan. 2025

According to the officer's notes, Kangaroo Jack's owners accidentally left the gate open, but the officers managed to safely return the exotic marsupial to his home without any harm. —Brandi D. Addison, Austin American-Statesman, 23 May 2024

Adjective

Long-term decline Almost nothing is currently known about the population health of marsupial moles. —Charles Feigin / The Conversation, Popular Science, 23 Jan. 2025

New research shows that the marsupial mole, a creature that swims through the sands of remote Australian deserts, might have suffered a population crash about 70,000 years ago due to climate change. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from the base of New Latin Marsupialia, order name, from neuter plural of marsūpiālis "of a pouch," from marsūpium "pouch, marsupium" + -ālis -al entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from New Latin marsūpiālis — more at marsupial entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

marsupial

1 of 2 adjective

mar·​su·​pi·​al mär-ˈsü-pē-əl 

: of, relating to, or being a marsupial

marsupial

2 of 2 noun

: any of an order of mammals (as kangaroos and opossums) that have a pouch on the abdomen of the female containing the teats and serving to carry the young