marsupial

1 of 2

noun

mar·​su·​pi·​al mär-ˈsü-pē-əl 

: any of an order (Marsupialia) of mammals comprising kangaroos, wombats, bandicoots, opossums, and related animals that do not develop a true placenta and that usually have a pouch on the abdomen of the female which covers the teats and serves to carry the young

marsupial

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a marsupial

2

: of, relating to, or forming a marsupium

Examples of marsupial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

More research will be required to determine that those giant marsupials, unlike massive foraging mammals, have home ranges tied more to their habitat than their body size. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025

Of the 600,000 to 700,000 native species found across the continent and surrounding seas, around 85% of plant species and 50% of marsupials exist nowhere else on Earth. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Adjective

The mechanics of marsupial reproduction are not well studied. —D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

However, unlike Australia’s marsupial megafauna, such as Diprotodon and the short-faced kangaroo, which vanished due to shifting climates and ecological pressures, there was no direct evidence linking the mountain pygmy possum to the same extinction timeline or causes. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

from the base of New Latin Marsupialia, order name, from neuter plural of marsūpiālis "of a pouch," from marsūpium "pouch, marsupium" + -ālis -al entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from New Latin marsūpiālis — more at marsupial entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1805, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

marsupial

1 of 2 adjective

mar·​su·​pi·​al mär-ˈsü-pē-əl 

: of, relating to, or being a marsupial

marsupial

2 of 2 noun

: any of an order of mammals (as kangaroos and opossums) that have a pouch on the abdomen of the female containing the teats and serving to carry the young