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

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

For example, marsupials such as the Tammar wallaby can produce two types of milk simultaneously to meet the nutritional needs of offspring at different developmental stages, a phenomenon known as asynchronous concurrent lactation. —Gat Rauner, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2024

Adjective

Koalas are not bears at all but part of the marsupial family. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024

With the rewilding of the Tasmanian tiger, Colossal Biosciences hopes to not only restore an apex marsupial predator to its native region, but also balance the ecological scales in the region. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 31 Oct. 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