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

Half zip closures and kangaroo pockets maintain the garment’s sporty vibe. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 6 Aug. 2025

In any event, dwarf and hybrid kangaroo paws are shorter-lived than the classic kinds. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 19 June 2025

The kangaroo was captured and returned to its owners. —Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 May 2025

On May 5, the sanctuary got a call about a kangaroo hopping down the road in St. Cloud and helped corner him in some bushes. —Natalia Jaramillo, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 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