kangaroo

noun

kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü How to pronounce kangaroo (audio)
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

Illustration of kangaroo

Examples of kangaroo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the social science category, the runner-up behind the kangaroos was a video on the invasive browntail moth in Maine. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 The sheriff's office added that its agriculture unit reunited the kangaroo with its owner after its proper registration was established and verified. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024 The Scuba Oversized Half-Zip Hoodie has a quarter-inch zipper and a kangaroo pocket. Nicol Natale, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 In the footage, the elusive kangaroo is seen hopping around the apartment complex's pool deck. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 9 Feb. 2024 The tri-blend style comes in six different colors and features a zip kangaroo pocket for extra storage. Megan Schaltegger, Travel + Leisure, 3 Feb. 2024 The blanket is designed with an interior kangaroo pocket to stow your phone and essentials, and a foot pocket for added warmth. Amanda Ogle, Southern Living, 2 Feb. 2024 According to his father, Richard, Johnny has never fought a kangaroo but occasionally enjoys the occasional barbecued roo fillet. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 2 Feb. 2024 Roughly 2,000 animals represent more than 350 species from around the world, from giraffes and elephants to kangaroos and apes. John Bordsen, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kangaroo.' 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

Guugu Yimidhirr (Australian aboriginal language of northern Queensland) gaŋurru

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kangaroo was in 1770

Dictionary Entries Near kangaroo

Cite this Entry

“Kangaroo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kangaroo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

kangaroo

noun
kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü How to pronounce kangaroo (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on kangaroo

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