Illustration of opossum
- opossum 1
plural opossums also opossum
1
: any of a family (Didelphidae) of small- to medium-sized American marsupials that usually have a pointed snout and nearly hairless scaly prehensile tail, are typically active at night, and are sometimes hunted for their fur or meat
especially
: a common omnivorous largely nocturnal mammal (Didelphis virginiana) of North and Central America that is a skilled climber, that typically has a white face and grayish body and in the female a well-developed fur-lined pouch, and that when threatened may feign death by curling up the body and remaining motionless and unresponsive
2
Examples of opossum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s a sure way to invite not only raccoons but other unwanted guests such as mice, opossums, and skunks.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Pair of suspects also has opossums Sept. 12, 2024
His mother, Connie Halstenberg, told The Times her son is innocent.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024
These nipples are concealed inside a pouch on its belly, because the Virginia opossum is a marsupial, the only one native to North America.
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Voice cast includes Pedro Pascal as fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as opossum Pinktail; Bill Nighy as goose Longneck; Kit Connor as gosling Brightbill and Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu as Vontra, a robot that will intersect with Roz’s life on the island.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for opossum 
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.
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024
Pair of suspects also has opossums Sept. 12, 2024
His mother, Connie Halstenberg, told The Times her son is innocent.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2024
These nipples are concealed inside a pouch on its belly, because the Virginia opossum is a marsupial, the only one native to North America.
—Kathryn Schulz, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
Voice cast includes Pedro Pascal as fox Fink, Catherine O’Hara as opossum Pinktail; Bill Nighy as goose Longneck; Kit Connor as gosling Brightbill and Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu as Vontra, a robot that will intersect with Roz’s life on the island.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for opossum
Dictionary Entries Near opossum
Cite this Entry
“Opossum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opossum. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opossum
noun
opos·sum
(ə-)ˈpäs-əm 
plural opossums also opossum
: a common marsupial mammal mostly of the eastern U.S. that usually is active at night, has a tail that can wrap around and grasp objects (as tree branches), and is an expert climber
Etymology
from apossoun, opassom, a word in an Algonquian language of Virginia meaning, literally, "white dog"
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share