kangaroo

noun

kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü 

plural kangaroos

: any of various herbivorous leaping marsupial mammals (family Macropodidae) of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands with a small head, large ears, long powerful hind legs, a long thick tail used as a support and in balancing, and rather small forelegs not used in locomotion

Illustration of kangaroo

Examples of kangaroo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Causey also told the news station that kangaroo experts were expected to come to the farm this week to inspect the enclosure. —Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025

In 2014, an Orlando area neighborhood had a kangaroo sighting. —Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025

The agency said the kangaroo caused two vehicles to crash but there were no reported injuries. —CBS News, 30 Apr. 2025

Law enforcement officials shut the interstate in both directions for the safety of the kangaroo and motorists. —Victor Mather, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Guugu Yimidhirr (Australian aboriginal language of northern Queensland) gaŋurru

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing kangaroo

• kangaroo court
• kangaroo rat
• red kangaroo

Rhymes for kangaroo

• amadou
• avenue
• ballyhoo
• baraboo
• barbecue
• barbeque
• bugaboo
• cabildo
• caribou
• cockatoo
• detinue
• devalue

Kids Definition

kangaroo

noun

kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü 

plural kangaroos

: any of numerous leaping marsupial mammals of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands that feed on plants and have a small head, long powerful hind legs, a long thick tail used as a support in standing or walking, and in the female a pouch on the abdomen in which the young are carried