kangaroo

noun

kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü How to pronounce kangaroo (audio)
plural kangaroos
: any of various herbivorous leaping marsupial mammals (family Macropodidae) of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands with a small head, large ears, long powerful hind legs, a long thick tail used as a support and in balancing, and rather small forelegs not used in locomotion

Illustration of kangaroo

Illustration of kangaroo

Examples of kangaroo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
It’s finished with a half-zip placket, front kangaroo pocket, and side slits. Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 1 May 2025 Claudia McKenzie, an expat living in Australia since 2016, told me in an email interview that seeing kangaroos and wallabies is typical outside cities. Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 While the gray kangaroos used by the scientists aren’t endangered, many other Australian marsupials are—and the researchers hope their findings can help those at-risk species. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2025 The ticket includes experiences like the Africa Tram, a relaxing tour to spot rhinos and giraffes, and Walkabout Australia to see kangaroos and platypuses. Kate Murphy, Axios, 29 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kangaroo

Word History

Etymology

Guugu Yimidhirr (Australian aboriginal language of northern Queensland) gaŋurru

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kangaroo was in 1770

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Cite this Entry

“Kangaroo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kangaroo. Accessed 5 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

kangaroo

noun
kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü How to pronounce kangaroo (audio)
plural kangaroos
: any of numerous leaping marsupial mammals of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands that feed on plants and have a small head, long powerful hind legs, a long thick tail used as a support in standing or walking, and in the female a pouch on the abdomen in which the young are carried

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