definitions

marsupial

[ mahr-soo-pee-uh l ]
/ mɑrˈsu pi əl /
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noun

any viviparous, nonplacental mammal of the order Marsupialia, comprising the opossums, kangaroos, wombats, and bandicoots, the females of most species having a marsupium containing the mammary glands and serving as a receptacle for the young.

adjective

pertaining to, resembling, or having a marsupium.
of or relating to the marsupials.

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RELATED WORDS

wombat, koala, kangaroo, possum, opossum, wallaby, bandicoot, euro

Nearby words

marsilid, marsilius of padua, marsipobranch, marston, marston moor, marsupial, marsupial bone, marsupial mole, marsupial mouse, marsupialization, marsupium

Origin of marsupial

First recorded in 1690–1700, marsupial is from the New Latin word marsupiālis pertaining to a pouch. See marsupium, -al1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for marsupial

British Dictionary definitions for marsupial

marsupial

/ (mɑːˈsjuːpɪəl, -ˈsuː-) /

noun

any mammal of the order Marsupialia, in which the young are born in an immature state and continue development in the marsupium. The order occurs mainly in Australia and South and Central America and includes the opossums, bandicoots, koala, wombats, and kangaroos

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Marsupialia
of or relating to a marsupium

Derived Forms

marsupialian (mɑːˌsjuːpɪˈeɪlɪən, -ˌsuː-) or marsupian, noun, adjective

Word Origin for marsupial

C17: see marsupium
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Science definitions for marsupial

marsupial

[ mär-sōō′pē-əl ]

Any of various mammals of the order Marsupialia, whose young are very undeveloped when born and continue developing outside their mother's body attached to one of her nipples. Most marsupials have longer hindlegs than forelimbs, and the females usually have pouches in which they carry their young. Kangaroos, opossums, and koalas are marsupials.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.