wombat
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of wombat
First recorded in 1790–1800, wombat is from the Dharuk word wom-bat
Explanation
The wombat is a fascinating Australian animal that resembles a small bear, but it isn’t actually a bear at all; it’s a marsupial, meaning it is more closely related to animals like koalas and kangaroos. The wombat is primarily nocturnal, meaning mostly active at night. Using powerful claws, it digs maze-like burrows, spending long periods there. Wombats are herbivores, feasting mostly on grasses and roots. One of their most unique features is their cube-shaped waste matter, which they use to mark territory. Their sturdy build and slow metabolism help them conserve energy, making them well-adapted to their environment. Wombats are also known for their surprisingly fast speed when threatened.
Vocabulary lists containing wombat
Australia and New Zealand - Introductory
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Australia and New Zealand - Middle School and High School
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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.
Photos from that time show her posing with a kangaroo and a wombat and being embraced by a giant koala.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
A US influencer who was filmed taking a wild baby wombat away from its distressed mother in Australia has said she is "truly sorry" and received thousands of death threats over the incident.
From BBC • Mar. 14, 2025
The video also shows the baby wombat hissing in distress before Jones then returns it to the bush.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2025
A wombat burrow can last for decades, potentially providing a “multigenerational refuge” for many species, Mr. Linley said.
From New York Times • Jun. 6, 2024
In fact, what Zeke felt fold over him was not the barbed cage of a giant robot pelican suit, but the tough muscles of a wombat.
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
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.
