possum

noun

pos·​sum ˈpä-səm 

1

: opossum sense 1

Well into the twentieth century in the rural South, a possum hunt remained a favorite cold-weather sport …

—Evan Jones

2

: any of various small to medium-sized, nocturnal, chiefly arboreal marsupial mammals (especially families Phalangeridae, Pseudocheiridae, and Petauridae) of Australia and New Guinea that have thick, soft fur, a prehensile tail, and a rounded head with protruding eyes and that are mainly herbivorous

A member of Australia's rich endemic possum population, it is named for its lemur-like eyes.

—Jo Chandler

Note: Possums have a head and body ranging in length from 12 1/2 to 25 1/2 inches (320 to 655 mm) with a tail nearly as long.

see cuscus, phalanger

Examples of possum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The berries are favorites of turkeys, bears, foxes, and possums in the fall, while the flowers are attractive and a huge attractant for pollinators. —Campbell Vaughn, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026

Find more goods inside Queenstown’s oldest cottage at Vesta Design Boutique, which has handmade jewelry, wooden postcards (18 dollars) and possum-fur gloves (from 55 dollars). —New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026

Newton believed Molly had survived by eating small animals, possibly possums – marsupials considered a pest in New Zealand. —Chris Lau, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026

After attention from delighted passengers grew, the possum eventually left the gift shop on its own and wandered into the main terminal, apparently ready to explore new horizons. —Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing possum

• play possum

Rhymes for possum

• awesome
• blossom
• lysosome
• opossum
• odontoglossum

Kids Definition

possum

noun

pos·​sum ˈpäs-əm 

: opossum