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Definition of penguin

penguin

/ˈpɛŋ.ɡwɪn/
pen · guin
Plural:penguins
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penguin Lexical Profile

penguin Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of various flightless, aquatic birds of the family Spheniscidae, native almost exclusively to the Southern Hemisphere, having webbed feet and wings modified into flippers for swimming.

Example

"The emperor penguin is capable of diving to incredible depths to hunt for fish in the freezing waters of Antarctica."

• Nearby Words

penetrative
penetrator
penfriend
penguin
penguin tetra
penholder
penicillin

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the 1570s, originally applied to the now-extinct great auk of the Northern Hemisphere. It likely derives from the Welsh words 'pen' (head) and 'gwyn' (white), referring to the great auk's facial spots. The name was later applied by sailors to the superficially similar but unrelated birds of the Southern Hemisphere.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Penguin. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/penguin
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