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
Confusingly, opossums are often just called possums.
—
Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
Many of these young animals, like baby opossums, arrive with scrapes, bumps, bruises and even fractured legs after being separated from their mothers.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
The center is permitted for all native wildlife, ranging from opossums, skunks, raccoons to songbirds, waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians, Hamlin said.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 2 July 2025
The Chachapoyas mouse opossum can reach over 10 inches in length, the study said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 25 June 2025
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Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
Many of these young animals, like baby opossums, arrive with scrapes, bumps, bruises and even fractured legs after being separated from their mothers.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 8 July 2025
The center is permitted for all native wildlife, ranging from opossums, skunks, raccoons to songbirds, waterfowl, reptiles, and amphibians, Hamlin said.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 2 July 2025
The Chachapoyas mouse opossum can reach over 10 inches in length, the study said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 25 June 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 6 Aug. 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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