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

Just north of Palm Beach lies Singer Island, a short peninsula part of Riviera Beach with the same sweeping Atlantic views as Palm Beach and none of the see-and-be-seen scene. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 7 Jan. 2026

Door County, Wisconsin Many people call Door County the Cape Cod of the Midwest, and that's no less true in winter, when snow covers the picturesque northeast Wisconsin peninsula. —Ashlyn Ware, Midwest Living, 7 Jan. 2026

On the eastern side of the peninsula, Ise Jingu Shrine will take center stage during the Okihiki Ceremonies from May through August 2026, a sacred tradition dating back 1,300 years in which the shrine is ceremonially rebuilt. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 6 Jan. 2026

Farther north, snow dusted Bologna and gave skiers in the Dolomites reason to cheer, though freezing temperatures are forecast for much of the north and central part of the peninsula over the coming days. —Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 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