marsupial

marsupial — noun

IPA/mɑːˈsuː.pi.əl/
KK[mɑrsˈupiəl]IPA/mɑːrˈsuː.pi.əl/
  • marsupialsingular
  • marsupialsplural

1. a mammal, such as a kangaroo or koala, whose young continue developing in a pouc

1.nounC2
Definition

a mammal, such as a kangaroo or koala, whose young continue developing in a pouch after birth

Example

At the wildlife park, Theo learned that a wombat is a marsupial.

a wombat is a marsupial

The zoo's new koala is a marsupial, not a small bear.

Common collocations
  • Australian marsupial
  • rare marsupial
  • small marsupial
  • species of marsupial
Synonyms
  • pouched mammal

    plain-English descriptive phrase rather than the standard scientific label

  • metatherian

    technical zoology term used in more specialized contexts

Antonyms
  • placental mammal

    mammal whose young develop longer inside the mother's body before birth

  • monotreme

    egg-laying mammal such as the platypus; a different mammal group

Grammar Patterns

a marsupial + verb

species of marsupial

Usage Note

Usually appears in science, wildlife, or educational contexts. In everyday speech, people often name the specific animal instead, such as kangaroo, koala, or possum.

Common Mistakes

A koala is a kind of bear.
A koala is a marsupial, not a bear.
Koalas may look bear-like, but they belong to a different mammal group.
A kangaroo is a marsupial baby.
A kangaroo is a marsupial.
'Marsupial' names the animal group; the baby is called a joey.

marsupial — adjective

IPA/mɑːˈsuːpiəl/
KK[mɑrsˈupiəl]IPA/mɑːrˈsuːpiəl/

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A marsupial is a mammal whose young continue early growth in a pouch after birth. A placental mammal keeps the young developing inside the mother's body through a placenta for longer, so the baby is more developed at birth. A monotreme is different again because it lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young. 'Pouched mammal' can help explain the idea in plain English, but it is a descriptive phrase rather than the usual dictionary label.

placental mammalmonotremepouched mammal

Common collocations

Nouns

  • marsupial pouch
  • marsupial species
  • marsupial mother
  • marsupial young

Phrases

  • Australian marsupial
  • rare marsupial