penguin

American  

[peng-gwin, pen-] / ˈpɛŋ gwɪn, ˈpɛn- /

noun

Ornithology.

1. any of several flightless, aquatic birds of the family Spheniscidae, of the Southern Hemisphere, having webbed feet and wings reduced to flippers.

2. Obsolete. great auk.

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penguin British  

/ ˈpɛŋɡwɪn /

noun

1. any flightless marine bird, such as Aptenodytes patagonica (king penguin) and Pygoscelis adeliae ( Adélie penguin ), of the order Sphenisciformes of cool southern, esp Antarctic, regions: they have wings modified as flippers, webbed feet, and feathers lacking barbs See also emperor penguin king penguin

2. an obsolete name for great auk

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Etymology

Origin of penguin

1570–80; origin uncertain; perhaps < Welsh pen gwyn literally, white head (referring to the great auk in its winter plumage); later misapplied to the Spheniscidae

Explanation

What's black and white and loves to eat seafood? A penguin! Penguins are flightless water birds, and the only place in the Northern Hemisphere where you'll find wild penguins is on the Galápagos Islands. If you live north of the equator, your interactions with penguins are limited to zoos and aquariums. Penguins are distinctive because of their contrasting black-and-white coloring, their size, and the fact that they walk and swim but don't fly. Their wings have, in fact, evolved to act as flippers in the water. You might think of penguins as cold-weather birds, and many do live in Antarctica, but most are found in more temperate areas.

Example Sentences

Previously, she held art director positions at the New York Times, Quartz and Penguin Random House, among others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

The book's success has since brought its 39-year-old author a six-figure international translation deal with Penguin.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Penguin Solutions’ fiscal second-quarter earnings were 52 cents a share, flat year-over-year, with sales down 6.3% to $343 million, exceeding estimates.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

You can think of them as the Joker, the Penguin and the Riddler in TV Batman terms, if you don’t think too hard.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Penguin Island is the story of an island inhabited by penguins who, in the mistaken belief that they are humans, are blessed by a nearly blind monk.

From "Bad Boy" by Walter Dean Myers