marsupial

[ mahr-soo-pee-uhl ]

/ mɑrˈsu pi əl /

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Definition of marsupial

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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Origin of marsupial

First recorded in 1690–1700, marsupial is from the New Latin word marsupiālis pertaining to a pouch. See marsupium, -al¹

Words nearby marsupial

Marsilius of Padua, marsipobranch, Mars red, Marston, Marston Moor, marsupial, marsupial bone, marsupial mole, marsupial mouse, marsupium, Mars violet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use marsupial in a sentence

Some marsupials, like kangaroos, have pouches that open forward.
Scientists Say: Marsupial|Maria Temming|October 25, 2021|Science News For Students
An attempt to save an endangered marsupial in Australia called the northern quoll may have put the animals at greater risk.
Scientists Say: Marsupial|Maria Temming|October 25, 2021|Science News For Students
Scientists hope the vaccine will finally offer koala populations protection from the disease, which is recognized as the most dangerous pathogen for the marsupials.
A new vaccine may curb the koala chlamydia epidemic|Hannah Seo|October 19, 2021|Popular-Science
Many semelparous organisms also experience reproductive death, like Pacific salmon and the marsupial antechinus.
These worms produce milk, but only when they kick the bucket|Elana Spivack|October 12, 2021|Popular-Science

Because of their unique reproductive biology and their relative rarity in laboratory settings, though, marsupials had eluded the CRISPR rush—until now.
An albino opossum proves CRISPR works for marsupials, too|Casey Crownhart|July 21, 2021|MIT Technology Review
There are three kinds of didelphic or marsupial animals on the coast.
Travels in Peru, on the Coast, in the Sierra, Across the Cordilleras and the Andes, into the Primeval Forests|J. J. von Tschudi
The pelvis, it is true, is furnished with marsupial bones, but these animals possess no pouch.
The Desert World|Arthur Mangin
It is digitigrade: it has five toes on the fore, and four toes on its hinder feet; its marsupial bones are simply rudimental.
The Desert World|Arthur Mangin
In Australia we find marsupial forms as at the present day; but they were gigantic in comparison with the latter.
Mythical Monsters|Charles Gould
It was associated with correspondingly large marsupial mammals, now also extinct.
Mythical Monsters|Charles Gould

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 of marsupial

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

Scientific 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.

marsupial

Definition of marsupial

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Origin of marsupial

Words nearby marsupial

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How to use marsupial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for marsupial

Derived forms of marsupial

Word Origin for marsupial

Scientific definitions for marsupial