What does "kangaroo" mean?
A member of the Macropodidae family of large marsupials with strong hind legs for hopping, native to Australia.
Kangaroo
/ˌkæŋ.ɡəˈɹuː/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of the Macropodidae family of large marsupials with strong hind legs for hopping, native to Australia.
- Grammar: kangaroo is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: aardvark, aardwolf, alpaca, angora goat.
- Useful contrasts: due process court, legitimate court, proper tribunal.
- Usage evidence: An ostrich cannot fly any more than a kangaroo can.
How to use "kangaroo"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kangaroo" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kangaroo" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kangaroo" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kangaroo" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kangaroo" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aardvark" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "kangaroo", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A member of the Macropodidae family of large marsupials with strong hind legs for hopping, native to Australia.
"Besides the Animals which I have before mentioned, called by the Natives Kangooroo, or Kanguru […]."
- 2 any of several herbivorous leaping marsupials of Australia and New Guinea having large powerful hind legs and a long thick tail wordnet
- 3 A hooded jacket with a front pocket, usually of fleece material, a kangaroo jacket. Canada, attributive
Verb
- 1 To practice kangaroo care on an infant; to hold a premature infant against the skin.
- 2 To hunt kangaroo. intransitive
- 3 To move like a kangaroo. intransitive
Adjective
- 1 Of or relating to Australia. not-comparable
"The rapid growth in Kangaroo bond issues in the Australian market has given rise to an interest in the nature, trend and impact of this type of bond on Australia's international investment statistics. While Kangaroo bonds have been issued for a ..."
- 2 Characterized by rapidly jumping prices in securities markets or by belief that the prices are unstable in contrast to bear and bull markets. not-comparable
Antonyms
due process courtlegitimate courtproper tribunal
Example
"An ostrich cannot fly any more than a kangaroo can."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "kangaroo"?
Common synonyms include: aardvark, aardwolf, alpaca, angora goat, animal, anteater.
How do you use "kangaroo" in a sentence?
An ostrich cannot fly any more than a kangaroo can.
How do you pronounce "kangaroo"?
Pronounced /ˌkæŋ.ɡəˈɹuː/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Guugu Yimidhirr gangurru (“eastern grey kangaroo”). (There is a popular misunderstanding that the word instead means "I don't know": supposedly, when Europeans asked what the kangaroo was, the Aboriginal Australians' answer meant "I don't know" and Europeans mistook this as the word for the animal. This is not true.)