any young animal, especially a kangaroo.
a young child.
a threepenny piece.
(formerly) a fourpenny piece.
a young kangaroo or possum
a young animal or child
First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain
First recorded in 1860–65; named after Joseph Hume (1777–1855), English politician who favored the coinage of the fourpenny piece
1895–1900; diminutive of Joseph, after Joseph Grimaldi
A baby kangaroo, koala, and opossum are all known as a joey. Nearly all marsupial mothers carry their joeys in a handy pouch on the front of their bodies. The most well-known joeys are probably tiny kangaroos, but the term applies to all newborn marsupials. Tasmanian devils, wallabies, and wombats fall into this category, and they also tote their joeys around in pouches or pouch-like folds in their abdomens. Etymologists know this word joey first appeared in the early 19th century, but its origin remains a mystery.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Wombat Protection Society said it was shocked to see the "mishandling of a wombat joey in an apparent snatch for 'social media likes'".
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2025
Edwardsville law enforcement and animal control from nearby Bonner Springs responded to calls about the unusual highway sight of a joey, which some mistook for a wallaby.
From Washington Times • Jun. 30, 2023
Guests can view the joey at the zoo’s Australia habitat as he begins to explore, nibble on eucalyptus leaves and rest on his mother’s lap.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2023
In the pouch, the joey attaches to its mother in order to nurse and continues developing for the next six months, the zoo said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2023
You do the joey, as I said, and climb almost up to the trapeze on the rope, and then make a fall.
From The Corner House Girls' Odd Find Where they made it, and What the Strange Discovery led to by Hill, Grace Brooks
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
