peninsula

noun

pen·​in·​su·​la pə-ˈnin(t)-s(ə-)lə  -shə-lə 

: a portion of land nearly surrounded by water and connected with a larger body by an isthmus

also : a piece of land jutting out into the water whether with or without a well-defined isthmus

the Italian peninsula

peninsular

pə-ˈnin(t)-s(ə-)lər 

-shə-lər

adjective

Synonyms

• arm
• cape
• foreland
• headland
• ness
• point
• promontory
• spit

Examples of peninsula in a Sentence

They built their house on a narrow peninsula.

the peninsula is constantly buffeted by storms

Recent Examples on the Web

Founded by Spanish conquistadors under Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in 1565, St. Augustine served as the capital of British East Florida until the Spanish regained control of the peninsula after the American Revolution in 1783. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025

The front is expected to serve as the pathway for several waves of low pressure, with one moving east from the lower peninsula of Michigan, a second over Lake Huron, another over central New York and yet a fourth near Cape Cod. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Russia also held a similar referendum in Crimea in 2014 following its occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula. —Patrick Reevell, ABC News, 24 Mar. 2025

These chocolate truffle bars are sweetened with raw organic honey, something rarely seen at scale, sourced from both Brazil and Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. —Andrew Watman, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin paeninsula, from paene almost + insula island

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for peninsula

• insole
• insula

Kids Definition

peninsula

noun

pen·​in·​su·​la pə-ˈnin(t)-s(ə-)lə  -ˈnin-chə-lə 

: a piece of land nearly surrounded by water or sticking out into the water

peninsular

-s(ə-)lər 

-chə-lər

adjective

Etymology

from Latin paeninsula "peninsula," from paene- "almost" and insula "island" — related to insulate, isle, isolate