Marsupial Definition

mär-so͝opē-əl
marsupials
noun
marsupials
An animal of this kind, as a kangaroo, opossum, or wombat.
Webster's New World
Any of various nonplacental mammals of the infraclass Metatheria, including kangaroos, opossums, bandicoots, and wombats, found principally in Australia and the Americas, and typically bearing young that suckle and develop after birth in the mother's pouch. These species were formerly placed in the order Marsupialia.
American Heritage Medicine
adjective
Of a superorder (Marsupialia) of mammals that lack a placenta and have an external abdominal pouch (marsupium) containing the teats: the incompletely developed offspring nurses within this pouch for several months after birth to complete its development.
Webster's New World
Of or belonging to the infraclass Metatheria.
American Heritage Medicine
Of or like a marsupium, or pouch.
Webster's New World
Relating to or having a marsupium.
American Heritage Medicine
Of or pertaining to a marsupial.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Marsupial

Noun

Singular:
marsupial
Plural:
marsupials

Origin of Marsupial

  • From Latin marsupium, marsuppium (“pouch, purse"), from Ancient Greek μαρσύπιον (marsupion) or μαρσύππιον (marsuppion), variants of μαρσίππιον (marsippion), diminutive of μάρσιππος (marsippos, “bag, pouch"); with English -al.

    From Wiktionary

  • From marsupium

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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marsupial