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

The freight push dovetails with Gulf governments’ longer-running ambition to link the peninsula’s cities by passenger rail, a plan the war has made more urgent. — semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2026

In the Pacific, Hurricane Odalys had winds of 85 mph (137 kph) and was centered about 1,200 miles (1,940 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. — Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Odalys was a Category 1 hurricane and was about 1,295 miles off the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico, moving east-northeast at 9 mph with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph, the hurricane center said. — Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026

Discussions on the wars in Iran and Ukraine, plus tensions along the Korean peninsula, are also expected. — Jennifer Pak, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026

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