peninsula

noun

pen·​in·​su·​la pə-ˈnin(t)-s(ə-)lə How to pronounce peninsula (audio) -shə-lə How to pronounce peninsula (audio)
: 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 adjective

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 From the rugged Baja peninsula to the mountainous Pacific and the idyllic Caribbean coast, Mexico is blessed with thousands of hotels. Meagan Drillinger, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2024 Indeed, Four Seasons Koh Samui is a spectacular tropical setting for the third season of The White Lotus situated on a private peninsula. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 With your savings, continue onto a puddle-jumper flight to Placencia and book a suite at one of the luxe beachfront resorts on the peninsula. Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024 That includes the Kerch Bridge, the multibillion-dollar span between Russia and Crimea that Mr. Putin inaugurated after seizing the peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Mar. 2024 The German officers were reportedly talking about sending weapons to Ukraine and a potential strike by Ukrainian military forces against a bridge in Crimea, the peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014. Joe Hernandez, NPR, 3 Mar. 2024 Establishing more wildlife corridors through the center of the peninsula will be crucial to their future, conservationists say. Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Los Cabos, on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja peninsula, is one of the county’s most popular vacation spots for good reason. Juliet Izon, Glamour, 20 Feb. 2024 The stalemate is further cemented by the surrounding major powers, who created the division of the peninsula in the first place. Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peninsula.' 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

Latin paeninsula, from paene almost + insula island

First Known Use

circa 1552, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peninsula was circa 1552

Dictionary Entries Near peninsula

Cite this Entry

“Peninsula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peninsula. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

peninsula

noun
pen·​in·​su·​la pə-ˈnin(t)-s(ə-)lə How to pronounce peninsula (audio) -ˈnin-chə-lə How to pronounce peninsula (audio)
: a piece of land nearly surrounded by water or sticking out into the water
peninsular
-s(ə-)lər How to pronounce peninsula (audio)
-chə-lər
adjective
Etymology

from Latin paeninsula "peninsula," from paene- "almost" and insula "island" — related to insulate, isle, isolate

More from Merriam-Webster on peninsula

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