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

Scores of new fathers kissed their babies for the first time, couples cried and embraced and hundreds of parents let out a collective sigh of relief as the crew disembarked on the north end of the Coronado peninsula. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Florida’s peninsula juts far from the rest of the country, and big metros like Miami, Tampa, and Orlando sit well away from neighboring states. — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Set the scene Located in the vast northern Baja peninsula, about 90 minutes south of the US border and 20 minutes east of Ensenada, Valle de Guadalupe has long been a hotspot for in-the-know West Coast and Mexican travelers. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Muslim armies had invaded from North Africa in the 700s, and Muslim rulers eventually governed much of the peninsula. — Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 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