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

There are no fewer than 800 Art Deco buildings in the peninsulas surrounding this Floridian city. —Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 15 Feb. 2026

Sprawling across less than 50 square miles on a peninsula, the city is packed with Victorian homes lining steep streets, buzzing with cable cars that zip between downtown and the wharf. —Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026

There are hot wars in Ukraine and Gaza, cold wars on the Korean peninsula and in the Taiwan Strait, and budding wars in Iran and parts of Africa. —Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026

An aerial view of the building, which overlooks the Miami syline, Atlantic Ocean, and Biscayne Bay from the peninsula-like Brickell neighborhood. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 Feb. 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