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

There is a peninsula for seating and a cooking, loads of cabinets, double ovens, tile flooring, a pantry, a backsplash, a media center with a desk, and a separate bar area which includes a sink and beverage refrigerator. —Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 1 Dec. 2024

Bom Bom began life in the 1980s as a collection of bungalows for marlin fishers, built at the tip of a peninsula between golden sand beaches in the Gulf of Guinea. —Ann Abel, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

Crimea has remained an important supply route for the Russian military since the war's escalation, with bridges to the peninsula being vital in maintaining forces in eastern Ukraine. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

One trench is being dug on the peninsula’s east coast near a border gate to the DMZ. —Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 31 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin paeninsula, from paene almost + insula island

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined above

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