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

This eruption is the eighth on the peninsula since 2021. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2024

The crater is located on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwestern Iceland, where authorities evacuated the seaside town of Grindavík, including the country's biggest tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa. —Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 29 May 2024

The storm tracked toward Lake Ray Roberts, crossed the lake and damaged trees and flipped campers on the peninsula that includes the Lake Ray Roberts State Park Johnson Branch. —Tom Johanningmeier, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2024

That’s off Belle Isle Drive and John Connor Road on the peninsula. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin paeninsula, from paene almost + insula island

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined above

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