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• joey
  joey

  noun

  any young animal, especially a kangaroo.
• Joey
  Joey

  noun

  a clown, especially in the circus or pantomime and puppet theater.

joey

¹ American  

[joh-ee] / ˈdʒoʊ i /

noun

Australian.

joeys plural

1. any young animal, especially a kangaroo.

2. a young child.

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joey ² American  

[joh-ee] / ˈdʒoʊ i /

noun

British Slang.

joeys plural

1. a threepenny piece.

2. (formerly) a fourpenny piece.

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Joey ³ American  

[joh-ee] / ˈdʒoʊ i /

noun

Joeys plural

1. a clown, especially in the circus or pantomime and puppet theater.

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Joey ⁴ American  

[joh-ee] / ˈdʒoʊ i /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Joe or Joseph.

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joey British  

/ ˈdʒəʊɪ /

noun

1. a young kangaroo or possum

2. a young animal or child

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Joeys
  plural
• joeys
  plural

Etymology

Origin of joey¹

First recorded in 1830–40; origin uncertain

Origin of joey²

First recorded in 1860–65; named after Joseph Hume (1777–1855), English politician who favored the coinage of the fourpenny piece

Origin of Joey³

1895–1900; diminutive of Joseph, after Joseph Grimaldi

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

Charniak said she is currently living on Social Security and her late husband’s small pension, having spent much of their savings on court battles and raising Joey.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

North Torrance 2, Bell 0: Seth Narasaki and Joey Banuelos combined for the shutout.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2026

Joey and Jesse Buss were controversially fired in a front office shake-up that occurred less than a month after the sale was finalized.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

This option will be offered to Spears, said Joey Buttitta, from the district attorney's office.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

During the rainy season, Joey and the other patients huddle in the corners of the overcrowded cabins to escape the water, which pools on the floor and rots the wood.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly