koala

noun

ko·​ala kə-ˈwä-lə 

kō-ˈä-

: an Australian arboreal marsupial (Phascolarctos cinereus) that has a broad head, large hairy ears, dense gray fur, and sharp claws and feeds on eucalyptus leaves

called also koala bear

Illustration of koala

Examples of koala in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It's estimated that around 50% of Australia's remaining koalas are infected, but the rate his highly population-specific. — New Atlas, 21 July 2026

Guests also get to hang out with emus, koalas and (obviously) crocodiles. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026

Thylacine research, by the same token, might be a lifeline for koalas by spurring the development of assistive reproductive technologies for marsupials. — Taylor Dotson, Scientific American, 10 July 2026

Koya is the sleepy koala with baby blue fur and a violet nose. — Rin Velasco, The Providence Journal, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Dharuk (Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area) gula, gulawanʸ

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for koala

• allah
• bala
• cala
• cholla
• mala
• sala
• scala
• amygdala
• areola
• cabala
• corolla
• impala

Kids Definition

koala

noun

ko·​ala kō-ˈäl-ə 

kə-ˈwäl-ə

: an Australian tree-dwelling marsupial mammal that has large hairy ears, thick gray fur, sharp claws for climbing, and no tail and feeds on eucalyptus leaves

called also koala bear