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 Share [Findings] Humboldt penguins who nest in the open have more pollutant metabolites in their blood than do penguins who nest in guano-rich burrows. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024 Teaching kids how to protect endangered wildlife, it is inspired by animals at Merlin’s Chessington World of Adventures, including Humboldt penguins, Rothschild giraffes, Southern White rhinos and Colombian Spider monkeys. Patrick Frater, Variety, 20 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for penguin 

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 May. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!