Illustration of opossum
- opossum 1
plural opossums also opossum
1
: any of a family (Didelphidae) of small- to medium-sized American marsupials that usually have a pointed snout and nearly hairless scaly prehensile tail, are typically active at night, and are sometimes hunted for their fur or meat
especially
: a common omnivorous largely nocturnal mammal (Didelphis virginiana) of North and Central America that is a skilled climber, that typically has a white face and grayish body and in the female a well-developed fur-lined pouch, and that when threatened may feign death by curling up the body and remaining motionless and unresponsive
2
Examples of opossum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kylie is an actual major character, the meek opossum who eventually becomes Mr. Fox’s right-hand man.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
At the rescue, the opossum received fluids and a checkup featuring X-rays and bloodwork.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
However, opossums are not completely immune from rabies.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 9 Dec. 2024
There are a lot more mice, rabbits, raccoons, and opossums in the brush between houses than in large tracts of underdeveloped forests.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025
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Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
At the rescue, the opossum received fluids and a checkup featuring X-rays and bloodwork.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
However, opossums are not completely immune from rabies.
—Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 9 Dec. 2024
There are a lot more mice, rabbits, raccoons, and opossums in the brush between houses than in large tracts of underdeveloped forests.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for opossum
Cite this Entry
“Opossum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opossum. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opossum
noun
opos·sum
(ə-)ˈpäs-əm 
plural opossums also opossum
: a common marsupial mammal mostly of the eastern U.S. that usually is active at night, has a tail that can wrap around and grasp objects (as tree branches), and is an expert climber
Etymology
from apossoun, opassom, a word in an Algonquian language of Virginia meaning, literally, "white dog"
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