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 of peninsula

• cape
• point
• headland

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

Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022 and annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

North Country National Scenic Trail spans eight states, including more than 1,100 miles in Michigan through urban and rural areas in the upper and lower peninsulas. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 10 Nov. 2025

The study added a lot to archaeologists’ knowledge of ancient roads in North Africa, France’s interior plains and the Peloponnese peninsula of Greece — regions that had been under-documented in prior maps. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025

The peninsula is part of Sucre state, one of Venezuela's poorest. —NPR, 8 Nov. 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