Kangaroo Definition: a Full Vocabulary Guide

Using sentences will make you understand how to discuss animals and their behavior. The following are some of the common uses of the word “kangaroo”:

Define a “kangaroo” in everyday English and see which associated words naturally appear with it.

Related nouns: wallaby marsupial joey

Synonyms (contextual): hopper jumper pouched animal

Common collocations: watch a kangaroo feed a kangaroo kangaroo hop kangaroo pouch

The definition of “kangaroo” can be broadened with the use of verbs, adjectives, and nouns.

With adjectives: wild kangaroo giant kangaroo baby kangaroo friendly kangaroo

With verbs: spot a kangaroo chase a kangaroo feed a kangaroo admire a kangaroo

With nouns (noun + noun): kangaroo toy kangaroo group kangaroo habitat

What does “kangaroo” mean beyond just the animal? Learn how it goes beyond biology to color everyday language.

• Having kangaroos in your top paddock is an Australian idiom meaning someone is a little eccentric, not thinking clearly, or acting strangely. The “top paddock” refers to the brain, and kangaroos jumping around there suggest confusion.

  He wears socks with sandals to every meeting, which makes people think he has some kangaroos in his top paddock.

• Kangaroo court — a non-official or fake court, in which the verdict has been decided beforehand.

  The encounter became a kangaroo court in which no one was given a fair hearing opportunity.

• Kangaroo hop is a fun way to portray fast or bouncing movement.

  The children did a kangaroo hop across the playground.

• Kangaroo words — words which have a synonym hidden within them, in the same way that a joey is contained in a pouch.

  The word “masculine” is a kangaroo word because it carries “male” inside it.

Check yourself: how well do you know the meaning and facts about the kangaroo? These quizzes will help you find out.

See how “kangaroo” is expressed in different languages. Translations in our table show how people around the world refer to this famous Australian animal.

Kangaroos are extraordinary creatures with unusual traits that make them stand out in the animal kingdom. Here’s what you need to know.

• Kangaroos can jump a long distance.

  The average kangaroo can make short-distance sprints of up to 70km/h (43mph) and over 9 meters (30 feet) at a time. This helps them in camouflaging from predators and their travels in the open and vast plains.

• The tail of a kangaroo is an extremely powerful one.

  Their muscular tail is a fifth limb and provides them with balance when they have to hop, as well as causing them to move slowly in the assistance of the fifth limb when grazing.

• The kangaroos have babies that they carry in pouches.

  The infant kangaroo, known as a joey, remains inside the pouch of the mother until after a few months, when the baby is safe and ready to live on its own.

• Kangaroos are able to live in severe conditions.

  They have adapted to dry and hot climates and in many cases, they have to cover a long distance in search of food and water, and can go over long distances without drinking and can extract moisture through the plants they feed on.

There are many quotes and phrases that feature the “kangaroo” word and that demonstrate the impact that the peculiar animal has had on languages and culture.

— Sid Waddell

Explanation: It is a comical metaphor of trying something really hard, nearly impossible and full of inexplicable movement.

— Nick Boles

Explanation: This quote is based on the use of the “kangaroo court” in a metaphorical sense to refer to a case where a ruling is not fairly done or in due process. Nick Boles explains that networks like Twitter should not be used to destroy the reputation of people without due process being taken.

— Jerry O’Connell

Explanation: The author makes a joke about how unpredictable kangaroos are because, unexpectedly, they make powerful jumps that make their close encounters dangerous.