wombat

noun

wom·​bat ˈwäm-ˌbat How to pronounce wombat (audio)
: any of several stocky burrowing Australian marsupials (genera Vombatus and Lasiorhinus of the family Vombatidae) resembling small bears

Illustration of wombat

Illustration of wombat

Examples of wombat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The others are the common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) and the Southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024 Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images In Australia, unique species abound – from koalas and kangaroos to wombats and emus. Julie Depenbrock, NPR, 13 Sep. 2024 The recent recording suggests the refuge’s wombat population, estimated to be 15 individuals, is thriving. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024 This juvenile Northern Hairy-nosed wombat was spied waddling around the Richard Underwood Nature Reserve (RUNR) in the state of Queensland, and the species is one of Australia's rarest mammals – and most endangered. New Atlas, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wombat 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wombat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Dharuk (Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area) wambad

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wombat was in 1798

Dictionary Entries Near wombat

Cite this Entry

“Wombat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wombat. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

wombat

noun
wom·​bat ˈwüm-ˌbat How to pronounce wombat (audio)
: any of several stocky burrowing Australian marsupials that resemble small bears

More from Merriam-Webster on wombat

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