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

In Australia alone, feral cats kill over 2 billion native animals annually, a toll that has decimated populations of small marsupials, reptiles and ground-nesting birds. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024

That's right, like the aggressive, short-legged Australian marsupial. —Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 31 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Free of competition from other mammals, around 70% of the world’s marsupial species now thrive in Australia. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Michael Jordan jumped a lot (was somewhat of a jump man, some would say), and never had a marsupial injury. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2024

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