penguin

noun

pen·​guin ˈpen-gwən How to pronounce penguin (audio)
ˈpeŋ-
: any of various erect short-legged flightless aquatic birds (family Spheniscidae) of the southern hemisphere

Examples of penguin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web South Africa’s legislative capital offers excellent hiking, a great foodie culture, beautiful (if slightly chilly) Atlantic beaches, penguins and more. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2024 There are rooms that could be set aside for avian quarantines, and areas that look like empty showers, which are designed to be filled with water and frozen in case a penguin comes to stay. Claire Fahy, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 The letter also cited a USDA report that says a dolphin bit a visitor, as well as findings that the Seaquarium didn’t have enough staff on hand to manage its population of dolphins, manatees, birds, fish, sea lions, penguins and other creatures. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024 Wedding ceremonies are increasingly incorporating other animals, including alpacas, goats and even penguins. Cathy Free, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 And the virus is practically knocking on Antarctica’s front door, where more than 100 million birds, including colony-living penguins, and marine mammals congregate. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 There’s a variety of animals to choose from, like an adorable bunny with flappy ears and a sweet penguin who loves to blow kisses. Maya Polton, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024 More than 500 common guillemots - seabirds related to penguins and puffins - have been found dead along the French Atlantic coast since the year began, French League for Birds has estimated. Reuters, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Antarctic communities, for example, have a taste for penguins and seals, sometimes banding together to execute novel hunting strategies. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'penguin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

obsolete English penguin great auk, perhaps from Welsh pen gwyn white head (applied to the bird in winter plumage)

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penguin was in 1577

Dictionary Entries Near penguin

Cite this Entry

“Penguin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penguin. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

penguin

noun
pen·​guin ˈpen-gwən How to pronounce penguin (audio)
ˈpeŋ-
: any of various short-legged seabirds of the southern hemisphere that cannot fly and have wings functioning as flippers and used in swimming

More from Merriam-Webster on penguin

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