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
Then a baby opossum shows up alone and helps itself to some of the dry food.
—
Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Here's how to keep wild turkeys away from your yard
Other Animals
While you may be tempted to blame other animals such as opossums or snakes, or even coyotes for making holes or burrows in your yard, these creatures are more likely to use existing animal holes for their dens.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
Jaguars also eat peccaries, capybaras, pacas, agoutis, deer, opossum, rabbits, armadillos, caimans, turtles and livestock, depending on their habitat.
—Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024
Coyotes also, through competitive exclusion, keep populations of raccoon, skunks, opossums and foxes naturally regulated.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
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Gord Magill, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Here's how to keep wild turkeys away from your yard
Other Animals
While you may be tempted to blame other animals such as opossums or snakes, or even coyotes for making holes or burrows in your yard, these creatures are more likely to use existing animal holes for their dens.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2024
Jaguars also eat peccaries, capybaras, pacas, agoutis, deer, opossum, rabbits, armadillos, caimans, turtles and livestock, depending on their habitat.
—Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024
Coyotes also, through competitive exclusion, keep populations of raccoon, skunks, opossums and foxes naturally regulated.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 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 28 Dec. 2024.
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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"
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