kangaroo

American  

[kang-guh-roo] / ˌkæŋ gəˈru /

noun

plural

kangaroos,

plural

kangaroo

1. any herbivorous marsupial of the family Macropodidae, of Australia and adjacent islands, having a small head, short forelimbs, powerful hind legs used for leaping, and a long, thick tail: several species are threatened or endangered.

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kangaroo British  

/ ˌkæŋɡəˈruː /

noun

1. any large herbivorous marsupial of the genus Macropus and related genera, of Australia and New Guinea, having large powerful hind legs, used for leaping, and a long thick tail: family Macropodidae See also rat kangaroo tree kangaroo

2. (usually plural) stock exchange an Australian share, esp in mining, land, or a tobacco company

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verb

1. informal (of a car) to move forward or to cause (a car) to move forward with short sudden jerks, as a result of improper use of the clutch

Other Word Forms

• kangaroo-like
  adjective
• kangaroolike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of kangaroo

First recorded in 1760–70; from Guugu Yimidhirr (an Australian Aboriginal language spoken around Cooktown, northern Queensland) gaŋ-urru, a large black or gray species of kangaroo

Compare meaning

How does kangaroo compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• wallaby vs. kangaroo

Explanation

A kangaroo is a large animal that leaps or springs on its big, strong back legs and uses its heavy tail for balance. If you visit Australia (or the zoo), you may see a kangaroo. Kangaroos are known for their habits of sitting upright and springing great distances. Female kangaroos have pouches in which they carry their babies. The word kangaroo is thought to come from a now-extinct Aboriginal language's word for a specific kind of kangaroo, gaNurru or gang-oo-roo. A "kangaroo court" is one that operates outside of the law, often with the intention of quickly (and unjustly) trying someone for a crime.

Example Sentences

Bunny Rabbit conned Captain Kangaroo out of his carrots.

From Slate • Apr. 18, 2025

The strong winds which accompanied the storm cloud began to swirl above the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point, causing a short-lived waterspout, the name for a tornado over a body of water.

From BBC • Nov. 1, 2024

“Once I released Kangaroo Time, she was like, ‘That’s my grandson!

From Science Magazine • Feb. 25, 2024

He was also a folk singer who recorded hit songs such as “Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport” and “Two Little Boys.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2023

That she was going into the second grade and that she watched Mighty Mouse and not Captain Kangaroo.

From "One Crazy Summer" by Rita Williams-Garcia