penguin

noun

pen·​guin ˈpen-gwən 

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

The team initially weighed the penguin at about 50 pounds, only around half of the weight of a healthy male. —Peter Guo, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024

But Blake is also the aquarium’s largest fully grown penguin, and his genetics can partially explain Pesto’s gargantuan size. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024

His biological father, Blake, is the aquarium’s biggest adult and oldest penguin. —Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024

Though leopard seals are widespread and abundant, overfishing, retreating sea ice and warming waters mean that krill and penguins, their main food sources, are both in decline. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing penguin

• Adélie penguin
• chinstrap penguin
• emperor penguin
• gentoo penguin
• king penguin
• macaroni penguin
• Magellanic penguin

Kids Definition

penguin

noun

pen·​guin ˈpen-gwən 

ˈpeŋ-

: any of various short-legged seabirds of the southern hemisphere that cannot fly and have wings functioning as flippers and used in swimming