Definition of penguin
: any of various erect short-legged flightless aquatic birds (family Spheniscidae) of the southern hemisphere
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Recent Examples of penguin from the Web
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Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape with the help of some prodigious penguins to explore the world.
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Martin said this particular species of penguin is endangered in the wild.
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The big sister was also able to feed one of the zoo’s elephants as well as have photos ops with a hippopotamus and a pair of penguins.
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The biggest populations of Adélie penguins live in the Ross Sea, below and east of New Zealand.
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April's class focuses on learning about textures by visiting jaguars and feeling fuzzy fur, watching penguins and touching fluffy feathers and seeing alpacas and touching soft fur.
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Recently, the company also shared that Wheezy, the squeaky toy penguin, will play a special role in the Disney World ride.
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Guests can visit penguins, touch pools, otters, river fish and more.
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Tiny hovering hummingbirds, enormous albatrosses, ground-dwelling ostriches, seafaring penguins and every feathered creature in between owe their existence to those birds that made it through that extinction event.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'penguin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of penguin
obsolete English penguin great auk, perhaps from Welsh pen gwyn white head (applied to the bird in winter plumage)
PENGUIN Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of penguin for English Language Learners
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: a black-and-white bird that cannot fly, that uses its wings for swimming, and that lives in or near the Antarctic
PENGUIN Defined for Kids
Definition of penguin for Students
: a short-legged seabird that cannot fly, uses its stiff wings for swimming, and is found in the colder regions of the southern hemisphere
Learn More about penguin
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Spanish Central: Translation of penguin Nglish: Translation of penguin for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of penguin for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about penguin
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