wallaby

noun

wal·​la·​by ˈwä-lə-bē How to pronounce wallaby (audio)
plural wallabies also wallaby
: any of various small or medium-sized kangaroos (especially genus Notamacropus) compare rock wallaby

Illustration of wallaby

Illustration of wallaby

Examples of wallaby in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Researchers can’t say yet how this change might influence the wallabies’ survival, but serious problems are possible when species’ reproductive timelines get out of sync with seasonal weather conditions and food availabilities. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024 Giant wallabies, who became extinct 10,000 years ago, were unlikely to have been able to hop, and the extinction of the dinosaurs may have contributed to the rise of grapes. Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 22 Aug. 2024 When reminded that most wouldn’t consider running a small petting zoo, bottle-feeding capuchin monkeys and housing baby wallabies and a host of other animals typical, Haddix laughs. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2024 Be on the lookout for sea lions lolling on the rocks, as well as koalas, wallabies, and a host of shorebirds. Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wallaby 

Word History

Etymology

Dharuk (Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area) walabi, waliba

First Known Use

circa 1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wallaby was circa 1798

Dictionary Entries Near wallaby

Cite this Entry

“Wallaby.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wallaby. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wallaby

noun
wal·​la·​by ˈwäl-ə-bē How to pronounce wallaby (audio)
plural wallabies also wallaby
: any of various small or medium-sized kangaroos

More from Merriam-Webster on wallaby

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