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

Tina the tailless opossum and Lottie the milk snake will be on hand at the booth set up by Anderson Humane and its Wildlife Coexistence Program. — Mike Danahey, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

In 2026, the raccoon and opossum hunting season was from January 1 to January 31, and from October 2026 through the end of the year. — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2026

According to D’Amico, sweet persimmons attract opossums, coyotes, squirrels, songbirds, deer, and more, while fallen pawpaw fruits draw a variety of wildlife including foxes, raccoons, wild turkeys, and songbirds. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 31 Oct. 2026

Open meadows connect with forest through long hedgerows, providing food and shelter for wildlife including beavers, otters, opossums, muskrats and numerous resident and migratory birds, according to ESLC. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026

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"