Illustration of koala
koala
noun
ko·ala kə-ˈwä-lə 
kō-ˈä-
: an Australian arboreal marsupial (Phascolarctos cinereus) that has a broad head, large hairy ears, dense gray fur, and sharp claws and feeds on eucalyptus leaves
called also koala bear
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Oscar-winner tapped into his recent role as optimistic koala Buster Moon in Sing 2 and joined Jimmy Fallon to jingle some bells for the holidays. 
Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2021 McConaughey, who returns in Sing 2 as Buster Moon, the optimistic koala who loves show business, also shared a photo of him smiling with his wife and children. Charmaine Patterson, PEOPLE.com, 14 Dec. 2021 The koala later was released in a forest — well away from the freeway. Author: Rod Mcguirk, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2021 The koala later was released in a forest — well away from the freeway. Rod Mcguirk, Star Tribune, 9 Feb. 2021 Now, imagine if that cat or dog was actually a koala! Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 23 Sep. 2020 Fires ravaged Australia, killing hundreds of koalas. Ashley Shaffer, USA TODAY, 4 May 2020 Tens of thousands of koalas had no way of escaping. Matt Simon, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020 Thirteen people and thousands of koalas have died in wildfires over the past three months. The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Dec. 2019 See More
Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2021 McConaughey, who returns in Sing 2 as Buster Moon, the optimistic koala who loves show business, also shared a photo of him smiling with his wife and children. Charmaine Patterson, PEOPLE.com, 14 Dec. 2021 The koala later was released in a forest — well away from the freeway. Author: Rod Mcguirk, Anchorage Daily News, 9 Feb. 2021 The koala later was released in a forest — well away from the freeway. Rod Mcguirk, Star Tribune, 9 Feb. 2021 Now, imagine if that cat or dog was actually a koala! Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 23 Sep. 2020 Fires ravaged Australia, killing hundreds of koalas. Ashley Shaffer, USA TODAY, 4 May 2020 Tens of thousands of koalas had no way of escaping. Matt Simon, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020 Thirteen people and thousands of koalas have died in wildfires over the past three months. The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Dharuk (Australian aboriginal language of the Port Jackson area) gula, gulawanʸ
First Known Use
1802, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
koala
noun
ko·ala kō-ˈä-lə
: a tailless Australian animal with thick fur and big hairy ears, sharp claws for climbing, and a pouch like the kangaroo's for carrying its young