wallaroo

noun

wal·​la·​roo ˌwä-lə-ˈrü How to pronounce wallaroo (audio)
plural wallaroos
1
: a large reddish-gray kangaroo (Macropus robustus)

called also euro

2
: either of two kangaroos (Macropus antelopinus and M. bernardus) related to the wallaroo

Did you know?

Wallaroos are indeed a kind of kangaroo. That term in its broadest usage refers to any member of the family Macropodidae - which comprises more than 50 species. More specifically, though, "kangaroo" refers to the eastern gray kangaroo, the western gray kangaroo, the red kangaroo, and to the three animals known also as "wallaroos." Like the animals to which they refer, the words "wallaroo" and "kangaroo" are native to Australia. "Wallaroo" is from Dharuk, an Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area; "kangaroo" is from Guugu Yimidhirr, an Australian aboriginal language of northern Queensland. Also from Dharuk is the word wallaby, which refers to small or medium-sized kangaroos, especially those of the genus Macropus.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web An orphaned baby wallaroo is getting round-the-clock care at the Oakland Zoo after his mum died from an infection. Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wallaroo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Dharuk (Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area) walaru

First Known Use

circa 1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wallaroo was circa 1826

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Dictionary Entries Near wallaroo

Cite this Entry

“Wallaroo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wallaroo. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

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