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noun

thylacine

THY-luh-seen
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Thylacine (noun) means an extinct carnivorous marsupial that was native to Tasmania. Example: “The thylacine is often called the Tasmanian tiger.”

noun
1
An extinct carnivorous marsupial that was native to Tasmania.
"The thylacine is often called the Tasmanian tiger."
"Museums in several countries display preserved thylacines."
"Many people still tell stories about thylacine sightings in Tasmania."

How to use thylacine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe extinct marsupial of Tasmania, often called the Tasmanian tiger.

When to use it

It is the standard zoological name, while Tasmanian tiger is the more everyday name.

Memory tip

Say the first syllable like "thigh," with the stress on it.

Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
extinct thylacine thylacine sighting thylacine skeleton
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The _____ is often called the Tasmanian tiger.

Etymology

The word comes from the scientific genus name Thylacinus. That name joins an Ancient Greek word meaning pouch or sack with the Latin ending -inus.

Origin: Translingual

Tasmanian tiger Tasmanian wolf

Rhymes for thylacine

See all rhymes for thylacine →

Frequently asked questions

What is a thylacine?
A thylacine is a carnivorous marsupial that was native to Tasmania and is now extinct. It is also known as the Tasmanian tiger.
Is the thylacine the same as the Tasmanian tiger?
Yes. Tasmanian tiger and Tasmanian wolf are other names for the thylacine.
Where does the word thylacine come from?
It comes from the genus name Thylacinus, which is built on an Ancient Greek word for a pouch or sack. The pouch refers to the animal being a marsupial.
What is the meaning of thylacine?
"thylacine" (noun) means an extinct carnivorous marsupial that was native to Tasmania.