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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Brittany, meanwhile, wore a kangaroo onesie and light brown winter boots. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024 This sweatshirt is made with zippered split kangaroo pockets which will keep my hands nice and warm during longhaul flights, while the stretchy nylon and spandex construction will feel as gentle as a blanket against my skin. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2024 The light green sweatshirt has kangaroo pockets and thumbholes in the sleeves to keep it in place. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 31 Oct. 2024 With 20 colors and a convenient kangaroo pocket on the top, this is great for lounging or running errands. Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for kangaroo 

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 6 Dec. 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

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