1
a
: a small enclosure for animals
b
: the animals in a pen
a pen of sheep
2
: a small place of confinement or storage
3
: a protected dock or slip for a submarine
4
1
: an implement for writing or drawing with ink or a similar fluid: such as
a
: quill
b
c
: a penholder containing a pen point
d
e
2
a
: a writing instrument regarded as a means of expression
enlisted the pens of the best writers—
F. H. Chase
F. H. Chase
b
: writer
3
: the internal horny feather-shaped shell of a squid
4
5
: a medical device for injecting drugs that resembles a fountain pen, contains a cartridge prefilled with usually several doses of medication, and when designed for multiple injections has a needle that is replaced after each use
insulin pens
People accidentally exposed to a food culprit can use the pen to inject themselves with a dose of epinephrine—also known as adrenaline—to avoid a severe allergic reaction.—Walecia Konrad
Walecia Konrad
: a female swan
peninsula
International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists
Examples of pen in a Sentence
Verb (1)
remember to pen up the dogs when visitors come over
Noun (1)
a goat pen
Noun (2)
Alexander Hamilton is reckoned to be the pseudonymous pen behind two thirds of the Federalist Papers
Verb (2)
though relatively unknown at the time of his death, the composer had penned some of the most memorable show tunes of his era
Noun (4)
earned six years in a federal pen
Recent Examples on the Web
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025
González penned more than 150 letters for his mother and even asked her to listen to the radio station for a surprise.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Everyone else has their starter written in pen or a pretty heavy pencil.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pen
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
That show is also produced by The Forge and is being penned by Adolescence co-creator Jack Thorne.
Willis, Joe Innes, George Faber and Jakeways are the executive producers of A Woman of Substance alongside Taylor Bradford.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025
González penned more than 150 letters for his mother and even asked her to listen to the radio station for a surprise.
—Amanda Jackson, CNN Money, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
Back at the reservation, Joe and his dad, Henry, work together to build a pen of sorts, though Henry grills Joe about who it is supposed to keep in.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025
Everyone else has their starter written in pen or a pretty heavy pencil.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pen
Cite this Entry
“Pen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pen
1 of 5 noun1
: a small enclosure for animals
2
: a small place of confinement or storage
pen
2 of 5 verb
penned; penning
: to shut in a pen
pen
3 of 5 noun
: an instrument for writing or drawing with ink
pen
4 of 5 verb
penned; penning
: to write especially with a pen
pen
5 of 5 noun
slang
Etymology
Noun
Middle English
Noun
Middle English penne "a writing instrument made from a bird's feather," from early French penne "a bird's feather, pen," from Latin penna, pinna "feather"
Noun
a shortened form of penitentiary
Word Origin
The words pen and pencil look very much alike, and the writing instruments themselves have much in common. But these two words are not at all related. Pen can be traced back to the Latin word penna or pinna, meaning "feather." The early pens were made of long feathers trimmed to a point to hold ink. In time, pens came to be made with metal points and later with rolling balls instead of points. For this reason we no longer associate the word pen with feathers. Pencil can be traced to the Latin word penicillus, which meant "little tail" or "brush." (It also gave us our word penicillin.) The first pencils were artists' brushes that had fine hairs drawn to a point, like the tail of a tiny animal. From these first pencils, used for painting fine lines, the word came to be used for other instruments used to draw marks. Some pencils were sticks of charcoal. Others were sticks of slate or lead. Still others were sticks of colored material like crayons. In time, we began using our modern wood and graphite pencils, which are not at all like the original "little tails."
Medical Definition
pen
noun
: a medical device for injecting drugs that resembles a fountain pen, contains a cartridge prefilled with usually several doses of medication, and when designed for multiple injections has a needle that is replaced after each use
Note: Medical pens are either disposable or reusable depending on whether the cartridge can be removed and replaced with a new prefilled one.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin and patients must give themselves multiple daily injections with insulin pens or syringes …—The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)
The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts)Illinois law allows schools to keep epinephrine pens around, and nurses or trained staff are allowed to use them in an emergency.—Mike Riopell, The Chicago Daily Herald
Mike Riopell, The Chicago Daily HeraldLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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