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
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The discovery of the worm in San Diego County rodents and opossums was made by staff at the San Diego Zoo and a local wildlife rehabilitation center, Project Wildlife, which is run by the San Diego Humane Society.
—
Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Evolutionary tree appearance depends on focus Marsupials such as opossums, or monotremes such as the platypus, are often shown at the bottom or left side of an evolutionary tree.
—Kevin Omland, The Conversation, 9 Feb. 2026
But toads and frogs are also prey animals for owls, hawks, skunks, opossums, and raccoons.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
There is the rescue story of Caliopea, a baby North American porcupine whose mom did not produce any milk and had to be hand raised and Lucius, an opossum, who had been shot in the head with a BB gun and lost his natural protective behaviors.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
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Susanne Rust
follow, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Evolutionary tree appearance depends on focus Marsupials such as opossums, or monotremes such as the platypus, are often shown at the bottom or left side of an evolutionary tree.
—Kevin Omland, The Conversation, 9 Feb. 2026
But toads and frogs are also prey animals for owls, hawks, skunks, opossums, and raccoons.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 6 Feb. 2026
There is the rescue story of Caliopea, a baby North American porcupine whose mom did not produce any milk and had to be hand raised and Lucius, an opossum, who had been shot in the head with a BB gun and lost his natural protective behaviors.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for opossum
Cite this Entry
“Opossum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opossum. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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"
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