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

• 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

The decades since have been marked by fluctuating tensions, and relations in recent years on the peninsula have become more strained. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Tickets are assigned via a random lottery process, and then the lucky winners have transport themselves to the resort city on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. —Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025

Location Fasano Rio de Janeiro is set right on Avenida Vieira Souto, the street that runs along Ipanema Beach, and is a short walk from Arpoador, the small peninsula where Ipanema meets Copacabana, known for its surf scene and prime sunset views. —Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2025

There, the pilots really were given a map of the Korean peninsula torn out of a middle school textbook. —Kayti Burt, Time, 17 Oct. 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