Illustration of kinkajou
kinkajou
noun
kin·ka·jou
ˈkiŋ-kə-ˌjü 
: a nocturnal arboreal omnivorous mammal (Potos flavus) found from Mexico to South America that is related to the raccoon and has a long prehensile tail, large eyes, and yellowish brown fur
Examples of kinkajou in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The 10-acre wild animal refuge at 5712 Vía Montellano in Bonsall, is home to more than 100 animals representing 70 species from around the world, ranging from wallabies, bearcats and armadillos to porcupines, binturongs, lynx, marsupials and kinkajou along with an iguana and alligators.
—
Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Lin-Manuel Miranda plays Vivo, an adorable rapping kinkajou living in Havana as one half of a street-performing act.
—Meg Walters, EW.com, 28 July 2022
And so Andres tasks the kinkajou with delivering an important package.
—Andy Meek, BGR, 14 Aug. 2021
The kinkajou bit the 37-year-old man’s foot and scratched his leg but didn't seriously injure him, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report obtained by Fox News.
—Fox News, 20 Aug. 2019
As Litersky headed out for work, the kinkajou -- which evidently had been camping out in front of the home all night -- slipped inside, according to the commission.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN, 20 Aug. 2019
The kinkajou was corralled into a bathroom until Florida Wildlife officials were able to arrive, CBS 12 reported.
—Richard Tribou, orlandosentinel.com, 19 Aug. 2019
At the time, officers were unable to determine where the kinkajou came from and whether it had been owned by anyone.
—Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, 19 Aug. 2019
The previous night, the man who was bitten saw the kinkajou sitting on a fence outside and had left it some watermelon to eat.
—Albert Pefley, sun-sentinel.com, 17 Aug. 2019
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Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Feb. 2026
Lin-Manuel Miranda plays Vivo, an adorable rapping kinkajou living in Havana as one half of a street-performing act.
—Meg Walters, EW.com, 28 July 2022
And so Andres tasks the kinkajou with delivering an important package.
—Andy Meek, BGR, 14 Aug. 2021
The kinkajou bit the 37-year-old man’s foot and scratched his leg but didn't seriously injure him, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report obtained by Fox News.
—Fox News, 20 Aug. 2019
As Litersky headed out for work, the kinkajou -- which evidently had been camping out in front of the home all night -- slipped inside, according to the commission.
—Scottie Andrew, CNN, 20 Aug. 2019
The kinkajou was corralled into a bathroom until Florida Wildlife officials were able to arrive, CBS 12 reported.
—Richard Tribou, orlandosentinel.com, 19 Aug. 2019
At the time, officers were unable to determine where the kinkajou came from and whether it had been owned by anyone.
—Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, 19 Aug. 2019
The previous night, the man who was bitten saw the kinkajou sitting on a fence outside and had left it some watermelon to eat.
—Albert Pefley, sun-sentinel.com, 17 Aug. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Kinkajou.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kinkajou. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kinkajou
noun
kin·ka·jou
ˈkiŋ-kə-ˌjü
: a slender long-tailed mammal of Central and South America that is related to the raccoon, is active at night, lives in trees, and has large eyes and soft woolly yellowish brown fur
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