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

Formed in Basel, Switzerland, in 1974, Hesperion XXI derives its name from the Classical Greek word for the people of the Italian and Iberian peninsulas. —Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026

No other luxury hotels will crowd Peninsula Papagayo, though—part of a ruling by the Costa Rica government to protect 70 percent of the peninsula's dry tropical forest. —Laura Dannen Redman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026

Floor to ceiling windows gaze out upon the Dyhólaey peninsula’s beauty while bathing the space in natural light. —Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 26 Mar. 2026

Set in a small Nenets community in the Arctic peninsula of Yamal, Nerkagi’s White Moss invites the reader into the impossible dilemmas of navigating an Indigenous life in the modern world. —Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 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