¹marsupial

adjective mar·su·pi·al \mär-ˈsü-pē-əl\

Definition of MARSUPIAL

: of, relating to, or being a marsupial

: of, relating to, or forming a marsupium

See marsupial defined for kids

First Known Use of MARSUPIAL

1819

²marsupial

noun

: a type of animal (such as a kangaroo or an opossum) that carries its babies in a pocket of skin on the mother's stomach

Full Definition of MARSUPIAL

: any of an order (Marsupialia) of mammals comprising kangaroos, wombats, bandicoots, opossums, and related animals that do not develop a true placenta and that usually have a pouch on the abdomen of the female which covers the teats and serves to carry the young

See marsupial defined for English-language learners

Origin of MARSUPIAL

New Latin Marsupialia, from marsupium

First Known Use: circa 1835

MARSUPIAL Defined for Kids

marsupial

noun mar·su·pi·al \mär-ˈsü-pē-əl\

Definition of MARSUPIAL for Kids

: a mammal (as a kangaroo or opossum) that does not develop a true placenta and usually has a pouch on the female's abdomen in which the young develop and are carried