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
Fleas are carried constantly into your yard by wildlife that passes through, such as skunks, raccoons, opossums, mice, and deer, says Benson.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2025
The opossum is expected to make a full recovery and will be returned to her natural habitat in a few weeks, Stastny said.
—Dawn Sawyer, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
These snakes have devastated small game populations including rabbits, raccoons, opossums and others, and they’ve been known to eat small deer and alligators.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Like other types of wildlife, such as opossums and skunks, foxes are opportunists and love an easy meal, says Pierce.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2025
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Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2025
The opossum is expected to make a full recovery and will be returned to her natural habitat in a few weeks, Stastny said.
—Dawn Sawyer, CNN, 15 Feb. 2025
These snakes have devastated small game populations including rabbits, raccoons, opossums and others, and they’ve been known to eat small deer and alligators.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
Like other types of wildlife, such as opossums and skunks, foxes are opportunists and love an easy meal, says Pierce.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 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 21 Apr. 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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