pen

[ pen ]

/ pɛn /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for pen on Thesaurus.com

noun

any of various instruments for writing or drawing with ink or a similar substance.

a detachable metal penpoint, filled by dipping or with a quill; nib.

such a penpoint with its penholder.

fountain pen.

ballpoint pen.

the pen as the instrument of writing or authorship: The pen is mightier than the sword.

a person's style or quality of writing: He writes with a witty, incisive pen.

a writer: I leave this story to abler pens.

the profession of writing: a master of the pen.

a pen-shaped device having a cartridge filled with a drug or medication: an insulin pen with disposable needles.

Computers. stylus (def. 3).

Ornithology.

a quill.
a pinfeather.

something resembling or suggesting a feather or quill.

Zoology. an internal, corneous or chitinous, feather-shaped structure in certain cephalopods, as the squid.

verb (used with object), penned, pen·ning.

to write with or as with a pen; put down in writing: to pen an essay.

to draw with or as with a pen: to pen a sketch.

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of pen

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English penn(e), from Old French penne “pen, feather,” from Late Latin penna “pen,” from Latin penna, pinna “feather, wing”

OTHER WORDS FROM pen

pen·like, adjectivepen·ner, noun

Words nearby pen

Pembrokeshire, Pembroke table, pemmican, pemoline, pemphigus, pen, penal, penal code, penalize, penal servitude, penalty

Other definitions for pen (2 of 7)

pen²

[ pen ]

/ pɛn /

noun

a small enclosure for domestic animals.

animals so enclosed: We have a pen of twenty sheep.

an enclosure used for confinement or safekeeping: We have built several pens to hold our harvest of corn.

playpen.

bull pen.

a dock having a protective concrete structure overhead, used to service and repair submarines.

verb (used with object), penned or pent, pen·ning.

to confine in or as in a pen.

Origin of pen

First recorded before 1000; (noun) Middle English penne, Old English penn (in compounds); perhaps akin to pin; (verb) Middle English pennen, derivative of the noun

Other definitions for pen (3 of 7)

pen³

[ pen ]

/ pɛn /

noun Slang.

penitentiary (def. 1).

Origin of pen

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; shortened form

Other definitions for pen (4 of 7)

pen⁴

[ pen ]

/ pɛn /

noun

a female swan.

Origin of pen

⁴

First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain

Other definitions for pen (5 of 7)

pen-

variant of pene- before a vowel: penannular.

Other definitions for pen (6 of 7)

Pen.

or pen.

abbreviation

peninsula.

Other definitions for pen (7 of 7)

P.E.N.

abbreviation

International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pen in a sentence

Pilot’s fountain pens are some of the smoothest writing, most dependable brands—and for a good reason.
No-fuss fountain pens that make your note taking and letter writing more elegant|PopSci Commerce Team|September 15, 2020|Popular-Science
The best pens stay fluid after many uses, dry fast, and write smoothly.
Add some verve to your life with these colorful pens|PopSci Commerce Team|September 11, 2020|Popular-Science
In March 2007,Oralgaisha Omarshanova, who uses the pen name Oralgaisha Zhabagtaikyzy, wrote about ethnic clashes in rival regions of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s financial capital.
These 10 journalists are missing, and COVID is impeding investigations|lbelanger225|September 1, 2020|Fortune
To create the pen, you had several vertical posts, around which you were wrapping a sheet of fabric.
Can You Cover The Globe?|Zach Wissner-Gross|August 28, 2020|FiveThirtyEight

Pop the S pen when the phone is already unlocked and you get a choice of eight apps including simple ones like notes and more complex ones like augmented-reality doodling on live videos.
Samsung Note20 Ultra review: Why this big phone works for the COVID era|Aaron Pressman|August 18, 2020|Fortune
Storey said Wright often returned applications “dripping in red pen.”
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One industry executive complained that Wright returned unapproved applications “dripping in red pen.”
Two Texas Regulators Tried to Enforce the Rules. They Were Fired.|David Hasemyer, InsideClimate News|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So, I had a pen and a pencil and started scribbling and drawing, and I felt good about it.
The Renegade: Robert Downey Sr. on His Classic Films, Son’s Battle with Drugs, and Bill Cosby|Marlow Stern|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Artists would use pen names and scrawl them across subway cars, walls, shops, and office buildings.
Catch Him If You Can: Reliving Banksy’s New York Invasion|Alex Suskind|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When you are firing out at night, the red tracers go out into the blackness as if you were drawing with a light pen.
War Is Hell and Such Good Fun|Don Gomez|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Squinty, several times, looked at the hole under the pen, by which he had once gotten out.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
Several times after this the boy and his sisters came to look down into the pig pen.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
She also practises etching, pen-and-ink drawing, as well as crayon and water-color sketching.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
And right after that, some nice sour milk would come splashing down into the trough of the pen.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum
Then the boy lifted out the comical little pig, and Squinty found himself inside a large box, very much like the pen at home.
Squinty the Comical Pig|Richard Barnum

British Dictionary definitions for pen (1 of 6)

pen¹

/ (pɛn) /

noun

an implement for writing or drawing using ink, formerly consisting of a sharpened and split quill, and now of a metal nib attached to a holderSee also ballpoint, fountain pen

the writing end of such an implement; nib

style of writing

the pen

writing as an occupation
the written wordthe pen is mightier than the sword

the long horny internal shell of a squid

verb pens, penning or penned

(tr) to write or compose

Word Origin for pen

Old English pinne, from Late Latin penna (quill) pen, from Latin: feather

British Dictionary definitions for pen (2 of 6)

pen²

/ (pɛn) /

noun

an enclosure in which domestic animals are keptsheep pen

any place of confinement

a dock for servicing submarines, esp one having a bombproof roof

verb pens, penning, penned or pent

(tr) to enclose or keep in a pen

Word Origin for pen

Old English penn, perhaps related to pin

British Dictionary definitions for pen (3 of 6)

pen³

/ (pɛn) /

noun

US and Canadian informal short for penitentiary (def. 1)

British Dictionary definitions for pen (4 of 6)

pen⁴

/ (pɛn) /

noun

a female swan

Word Origin for pen

C16: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for pen (5 of 6)

PEN

/ (pɛn) /

n acronym for

International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists, and Novelists

British Dictionary definitions for pen (6 of 6)

Pen.

abbreviation for

Peninsula

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with pen

pen

see slip of the lip (pen).

pen

Origin of pen

OTHER WORDS FROM pen

Words nearby pen

Other definitions for pen (2 of 7)

Origin of pen

Other definitions for pen (3 of 7)

Origin of pen

Other definitions for pen (4 of 7)

Origin of pen

Other definitions for pen (5 of 7)

Other definitions for pen (6 of 7)

or pen.

Other definitions for pen (7 of 7)

Words related to pen

How to use pen in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pen (1 of 6)

Word Origin for pen

British Dictionary definitions for pen (2 of 6)

Word Origin for pen

British Dictionary definitions for pen (3 of 6)

British Dictionary definitions for pen (4 of 6)

Word Origin for pen

British Dictionary definitions for pen (5 of 6)

British Dictionary definitions for pen (6 of 6)

Other Idioms and Phrases with pen