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

Smith, the other Gellibrand resident, said the koala her family found was checked over, fed eucalyptus and released into an unburnt gumtree. —Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026

While the 2019–2020 bushfires wreaked havoc on KI’s koala population, recovery is underway thanks to a bevy of conservation efforts. —Laura Kiniry, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026

Ricky also visited Sydney a few weeks ago, and decided to regale us with all of his strangest koala facts. —Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 28 Jan. 2026

In a video shared on Instagram, Robert introduced a koala, a snake, and the cockatoo — who tried to bite one of the letters off — to his trophy. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 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

• cabala
• corolla
• impala
• kabbalah
• kamala
• masala
• oglala
• allah
• bala
• cala
• cholla
• mala

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