Tasmanian devil

American

noun

a small, predacious marsupial, Sarcophilus harrisii, of Tasmania, having a black coat with white patches: its dwindling population is now confined to isolated areas.

Tasmanian devil British

noun

Also called: ursine dasyure. a small ferocious carnivorous marsupial, Sarcophilus harrisi, of Tasmania, having black fur with pale markings, strong jaws, and short legs: family Dasyuridae

"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

Etymology

Origin of Tasmanian devil

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

A Tasmanian devil named Mary has been found in an "unstable condition" more than two weeks after escaping her enclosure, an Australian wildlife park said Wednesday.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

Over the past 30 years, Australia's Tasmanian devil population has been afflicted with an infectious cancer that has pushed the species to near extinction.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2024

“Warner Bros. have trademarked a very specific representation of the Tasmanian devil. They've got the Tasmanian devil as a cartoon character, and then underneath they actually call it ‘The Tasmanian Devil,’” he said.

From New York Times • May 5, 2023

I always say Ben was like a Tasmanian devil as a little boy, growing up in Walton-on-the-Naze.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2022

There followed a description of this year’s turnip crop that would have put a Tasmanian devil to sleep.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023