An opossum is a kind of marsupialA mammal that carries its young in a pouch.. In everyday English, the word most often refers to the American opossum, a nocturnalActive mainly during the night. animal with a long, graspingAble to hold and grab things firmly. tail.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ə-PAH-səm/
Easy pronunciation: uh-PAH-sum (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: pah.
Use this for the American marsupial, not the Australian possum.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Opossum Meaning
an American marsupial with a long tail that can grasp branches
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A nocturnal, tree-dwelling marsupial found in the Americas, with a naked prehensile tail.
Example: We saw an opossum climbing through the trees after dark.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- possum — Common alternative name for the American animal in some usage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Opossum
Meaning 2
an Australian marsupial with a long tail that can grasp branches
Part of speech: noun
Definition: A small furry Australian marsupial with a long, usually prehensile tail.
Example: The guide pointed out a possum hiding in the eucalyptus tree.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- phalanger — A taxonomic or formal synonym for this Australian sense.
- possum — Common name for Australian species in general usage.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Opossum Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- possum
Australian marsupial sense
- phalanger
- possum
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People often confuse opossums with Australian possums. They are different animals, though both are marsupials.
- In North American English, opossum usually refers to the American animal, while possum is often used informally.
- Do not assume every use of possum means the same species as opossum.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does opossum mean?
Opossum usually means the North American marsupial with a bare, grasping tail. It can also refer to related Australian marsupials in a more technical or broader sense.
Is opossum the same as possum?
Not exactly. In North American English, opossum usually refers to the American animal, while possum is more often used for Australian marsupials.
What are opossum synonyms?
The main synonym is possum for the American sense. For the Australian sense, phalanger can also be used in more formal or technical contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.