kangaroo

noun

kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü How to pronounce kangaroo (audio)
plural kangaroos
: any of various herbivorous leaping marsupial mammals (family Macropodidae) of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands with a small head, large ears, long powerful hind legs, a long thick tail used as a support and in balancing, and rather small forelegs not used in locomotion

Illustration of kangaroo

Illustration of kangaroo

Examples of kangaroo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Competing in Paris against three others, Gunn tried to flex her creativity by showcasing moves that paid homage to her home country, including a sprinkler dance (invented in Australia) and a kangaroo hop. — David MacK, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026 Officers were called to Rufe Snow Drive and Loop 820 for reports of an animal that witnesses at first believed might be a kangaroo or monkey, police said in a news release. — Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Aug. 2026 The kangaroo mouse does walk a bit like a kangaroo, and the elephant shrew’s nose does somewhat resemble that of a pachyderm. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 26 July 2026 There’s a hood with an adjustable drawstring for cold days, a front kangaroo pocket, and ribbed hems to keep out cool air drafts. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for kangaroo

Word History

Etymology

Guugu Yimidhirr (Australian Aboriginal language of northern Queensland) gaŋurru

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kangaroo was in 1770

Phrases Containing kangaroo

Rhymes for kangaroo

See All Rhymes for kangaroo

Browse Nearby Words

kangany
kangaroo
kangaroo's-foot
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Kangaroo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kangaroo. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

kangaroo

noun
kan·​ga·​roo ˌkaŋ-gə-ˈrü How to pronounce kangaroo (audio)
plural kangaroos
: any of numerous leaping marsupial mammals of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands that feed on plants and have a small head, long powerful hind legs, a long thick tail used as a support in standing or walking, and in the female a pouch on the abdomen in which the young are carried

More from Merriam-Webster on kangaroo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kangaroo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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