1. A creature from Aboriginal Australian mythology, typically depicted as a large, fearsome water-dwelling monster.
Usage: From Australian Aboriginal languages; Often used in folklore and children's stories
2. Something that is feared or talked about but whose existence is doubtful or unproven.
Usage: Informal; Australian English

Examples

• According to Aboriginal legend, the bunyip lurked in billabongs and swamps.
• Children were warned not to venture near the water after dark because of the bunyip.
• The old stories spoke of a bunyip that would drag unsuspecting swimmers beneath the surface.
• Some people dismissed the bunyip as nothing more than a bunyip—a creature that probably never existed.
• The bunyip has become an iconic figure in Australian folklore and popular culture.
• Early European settlers heard tales of the bunyip from Indigenous Australians.