noun
Common
joey
JOH-ee
Joey (noun) means a baby kangaroo or similar marsupial. Example: “At the wildlife park, we watched a joey hop beside its mother.”
noun
1
A baby kangaroo or similar marsupial.
"At the wildlife park, we watched a joey hop beside its mother."
"The keeper fed the orphaned joey from a small bottle."
"The joey peeked out of its mother's pouch."
2
A clown, especially in British circus tradition.
"The old circus had a famous joey who wore baggy trousers and a red nose."
"My grandfather remembered seeing a joey fall over his own enormous shoes."
"The joey tumbled across the ring to make the children laugh."
How to use joey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost familiar as the word for a baby kangaroo; also an old term for a circus clown.
Common pairings
a joey in its mother's pouch
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Word forms
- Plural
- joeys
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
At the wildlife park, we watched a _____ hop beside its mother.
Etymology
The clown sense is named after Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837), the celebrated English clown; the kangaroo sense likely comes from an Australian Aboriginal word.
Class of 1778
joey joined the language around 1778.
See the full Class of 1778 →
Rhymes for joey
See all rhymes for joey →Frequently asked questions
What does “joey” mean?
The word “joey” means a baby kangaroo or similar marsupial. In plain terms, most familiar as the word for a baby kangaroo; also an old term for a circus clown.
How do you pronounce “joey”?
“Joey” is pronounced JOH-ee (/ˈd͡ʒoʊ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “joey” in a sentence?
Here is “joey” used in a sentence: “The joey peeked out of its mother's pouch.”
What part of speech is “joey”?
“Joey” is a noun.
Where does the word “joey” come from?
The word “joey” dates back to around 1778. The clown sense is named after Joseph Grimaldi (1778-1837), the celebrated English clown; the kangaroo sense likely comes from an Australian Aboriginal word.
Is “joey” a common word?
“Joey” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “joey” have?
“Joey” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a baby kangaroo or similar marsupial.
Which baby animals are called joeys?
A joey is the young of a kangaroo, and the term is also used for the babies of other marsupials such as wallabies, koalas, wombats, and possums.
What is the difference between a joey and a cub?
A joey is a young marsupial, typically carried and nursed in its mother's pouch. A cub is the young of animals such as bears, lions, and foxes. The two words are not interchangeable.
Does a joey live in its mother's pouch?
Yes. A young kangaroo, or joey, spends the early part of its life developing inside its mother's pouch before it begins to venture out.
Is a circus clown ever called a joey?
Yes. In British circus tradition, 'joey' is an old word for a clown. This meaning is separate from the more common sense of a baby marsupial.
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