penguin

noun

pen·​guin ˈpen-gwən How to pronounce penguin (audio)
ˈpeŋ-
: any of various erect short-legged flightless aquatic birds (family Spheniscidae) of the southern hemisphere

Examples of penguin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There’s a variety of animals to choose from, like an adorable bunny with flappy ears and a sweet penguin who loves to blow kisses. Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024 More than 500 common guillemots - seabirds related to penguins and puffins - have been found dead along the French Atlantic coast since the year began, French League for Birds has estimated. Reuters, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Antarctic communities, for example, have a taste for penguins and seals, sometimes banding together to execute novel hunting strategies. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 There are more than 20 African penguins at the aquarium, according to the institute. Makiya Seminera, Miami Herald, 12 Feb. 2024 In the wild, African penguins make nests by burrowing and lining their nest with leaves, sticks and rocks. Minnah Arshad, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 When the door opened, the penguins all waddled to their outdoor habitat. Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2024 Netflix’s Atypical, released in 2017, followed Keir Gilchrist’s Sam, an autistic teen with a fascination for penguins who is eager to start dating. Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2024 Penguin Parades are coming to a close because the penguins, who march through zoo grounds each year, are retiring, a press release said. Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penguin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

obsolete English penguin great auk, perhaps from Welsh pen gwyn white head (applied to the bird in winter plumage)

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penguin was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near penguin

Cite this Entry

“Penguin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penguin. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

penguin

noun
pen·​guin ˈpen-gwən How to pronounce penguin (audio)
ˈpeŋ-
: any of various short-legged seabirds of the southern hemisphere that cannot fly and have wings functioning as flippers and used in swimming

More from Merriam-Webster on penguin

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