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

• arm
• cape
• foreland
• headland
• ness
• point
• promontory
• spit

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

Air: Cape Cod Gateway Airport is the largest airport on the peninsula and sees seasonal service from major airlines like American Airlines and JetBlue, while Cape Air serves the airport year-round. —Cameron Sperance, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2025

The nations on the Korean peninsula are still technically at war and have been since an armistice marked the end of the Korean War in 1953. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 June 2025

The all-inclusive resort is among the properties in the peninsula’s hotel corridor. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 June 2025

As well as serving as a vital supply line for Moscow’s troops, the Crimean Bridge also has huge symbolic value for President Vladimir Putin, embodying his objective to bind the Ukrainian peninsula to Russia. —Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 3 June 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