opossum

noun

opos·​sum ə-ˈpä-səm  ˈpä-səm 

plural opossums also opossum

1

: any of a family (Didelphidae) of small- to medium-sized American marsupials that usually have a pointed snout and nearly hairless scaly prehensile tail, are typically active at night, and are sometimes hunted for their fur or meat

especially : a common omnivorous largely nocturnal mammal (Didelphis virginiana) of North and Central America that is a skilled climber, that typically has a white face and grayish body and in the female a well-developed fur-lined pouch, and that when threatened may feign death by curling up the body and remaining motionless and unresponsive

2

: possum sense 2

Illustration of opossum

• opossum 1

Examples of opossum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

At one point, some nearby kids caught wind of the opossum and tried inching their way closer. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025

Resembling a battle-ready opossum, the armadillo is a fairly new resident of the Volunteer State. —Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025

That’s a sure way to invite not only raccoons but other unwanted guests such as mice, opossums, and skunks. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2025

Texans may also have run-ins with wildlife, such as raccoons, opossums and squirrels, during the winter months, according to 855 Bugs. —Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

earlier apossoun, opassom, borrowed from a Virginia Algonquian word of uncertain form, going back to Algonquian *wa·p- "white" + *-aʔθemw- "dog, small animal"

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for opossum

• lysosome
• awesome
• blossom
• possum
• odontoglossum

Kids Definition

opossum

noun

opos·​sum (ə-)ˈpäs-əm 

plural opossums also opossum

: a common marsupial mammal mostly of the eastern U.S. that usually is active at night, has a tail that can wrap around and grasp objects (as tree branches), and is an expert climber

Etymology

from apossoun, opassom, a word in an Algonquian language of Virginia meaning, literally, "white dog"