PEN Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
2025.04.02 12:56Games Word of the Day Grammar Wordplay New Slang Rhymes Word Finder Thesaurus Join MWU More Games Word of the Day Grammar Wordplay Slang Rhymes Word Finder Thesaurus Join MWU Shop Books Merch Log In Username My Words Recents Account Log Out Est. 1828 Dictionary Definition verb (1) noun (1) noun (2) verb (2) noun (3) noun (4) abbreviation (1) abbreviation (2) verb 8 verb (1) noun (1) noun (2) verb (2) noun (3) noun (4) abbreviation (1) abbreviation (2) Synonyms Example Sentences Word History Phrases Containing Rhymes Entries Near Cite this Entry Citation Share Kids Definition Kids Medical Definition Medical More from M-W Show more Show more Citation Share Kids Medical More from M-W Save Word To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In
pen
1 of 8verb (1)
ˈpen penned ; penning Synonyms of pentransitive verb
: to shut in or as if in a pen The cattle were penned behind a wooden fence.pen
2 of 8noun (1)
1 a : a small enclosure for animals b : the animals in a pen a pen of sheep 2 : a small place of confinement or storage 3 : a protected dock or slip for a submarine 4 : bullpen sense 2pen
3 of 8noun (2)
1 : an implement for writing or drawing with ink or a similar fluid: such as a : quill b : pen point c : a penholder containing a pen point d : fountain pen e : ballpoint pen 2 a : a writing instrument regarded as a means of expression enlisted the pens of the best writers F. H. Chase b : writer 3 : the internal horny feather-shaped shell of a squid 4 : stylus sense d 5 : a medical device for injecting drugs that resembles a fountain pen, contains a cartridge prefilled with usually several doses of medication, and when designed for multiple injections has a needle that is replaced after each use insulin pens People accidentally exposed to a food culprit can use the pen to inject themselves with a dose of epinephrine—also known as adrenaline—to avoid a severe allergic reaction. Walecia Konradpen
4 of 8verb (2)
penned ; penningtransitive verb
: write , indite pen a letterpen
5 of 8noun (3)
: a female swanpen
6 of 8noun (4)
: penitentiarypen
7 of 8abbreviation (1)
peninsulaPEN
8 of 8abbreviation (2)
International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and NovelistsSynonyms
Verb (1)
box (in) cage closet coop (up) corral encage encase enclose inclose envelop fence (in) hedge hem (in) house immure include mew (up) wall (in)Noun (1)
cage coop corral hutch poundNoun (2)
author litterateur littérateur penman scribe scrivener writerVerb (2)
author scratch (out) scribble writeNoun (4)
bastille big house [ slang ] bridewell brig calaboose can clink [ slang ] cooler coop guardroom hock hold hoosegow jail jailhouse joint [ slang ] jug lockup nick [ British slang ] penitentiary pokey [ slang ] prison quod [ British slang ] slam slammer stir [ slang ] stockade tolbooth [ Scottish ] See All Synonyms & Antonyms in ThesaurusExamples of pen in a Sentence
Verb (1) remember to pen up the dogs when visitors come over Noun (1) a goat pen Noun (2) Alexander Hamilton is reckoned to be the pseudonymous pen behind two thirds of the Federalist Papers Verb (2) though relatively unknown at the time of his death, the composer had penned some of the most memorable show tunes of his era Noun (4) earned six years in a federal pen Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback . Verb Condon penned the script, and the film features music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter , 23 Mar. 2025 In September 2022, O'Donnell penned an emotional essay for PEOPLE and opened up about Clay's autism diagnosis for the first time. Hannah Sacks, People.com , 21 Mar. 2025 Noun Germany was excellent in the first 45 minutes, heading to the dressing rooms with a 3-0 lead thanks to goals by Joshua Kimmich (30’ pen .), Jamal Musiala (36’) and Tim Kleindienst. Manuel Veth, Forbes , 23 Mar. 2025 Dis pen sed via a gilded click pen—one that can always be found in Jennifer Lopez’s beauty bag—the lightweight product is a Vogue editor’s secret for awakening tired eyes. Jenny Berg, Vogue , 22 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for penWord History
EtymologyVerb (1)
Middle English pennen , from Old English -pennian
Noun (1)
Middle English, perhaps from pennen
Noun (2)
Middle English penne , from Anglo-French, feather, pen, from Latin penna, pinna feather; akin to Greek pteron wing — more at feather
Noun (3)
origin unknown
First Known UseVerb (1)
13th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun (3)
circa 1550, in the meaning defined above
Noun (4)
1881, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler The first known use of pen was in the 13th century See more words from the same centuryPhrases Containing pen
ballpoint pen bull pen felt - tip pen fountain pen light pen pen friend pen in pen name pen pal pen point pen pusher pen up poison - pen poison - pen letter put pen to paper put / set pen to paper sea pen the pen with a (single) stroke of a / the / his / her pen See MoreRhymes for pen
ben bren chen den en gen glen hen jen ken men sten See All Rhymes for penBrowse Nearby Words
Pemphredonidae pen PEN See all Nearby WordsCite this Entry
Style MLA Chicago APA Merriam-Webster“Pen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pen. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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Kids Definition
pen
1 of 5 noun ˈpen 1 : a small enclosure for animals 2 : a small place of confinement or storagepen
2 of 5 verb penned ; penning : to shut in a penpen
3 of 5 noun : an instrument for writing or drawing with inkpen
4 of 5 verb penned ; penning : to write especially with a penpen
5 of 5 noun slang : penitentiary EtymologyNoun
Middle English
Noun
Middle English penne "a writing instrument made from a bird's feather," from early French penne "a bird's feather, pen," from Latin penna, pinna "feather"
Noun
a shortened form of penitentiary
Word Origin The words pen and pencil look very much alike, and the writing instruments themselves have much in common. But these two words are not at all related. Pen can be traced back to the Latin word penna or pinna, meaning "feather." The early pens were made of long feathers trimmed to a point to hold ink. In time, pens came to be made with metal points and later with rolling balls instead of points. For this reason we no longer associate the word pen with feathers. Pencil can be traced to the Latin word penicillus, which meant "little tail" or "brush." (It also gave us our word penicillin. ) The first pencils were artists' brushes that had fine hairs drawn to a point, like the tail of a tiny animal. From these first pencils, used for painting fine lines, the word came to be used for other instruments used to draw marks. Some pencils were sticks of charcoal. Others were sticks of slate or lead. Still others were sticks of colored material like crayons. In time, we began using our modern wood and graphite pencils, which are not at all like the original "little tails."Medical Definition
pen
noun ˈpen : a medical device for injecting drugs that resembles a fountain pen, contains a cartridge prefilled with usually several doses of medication, and when designed for multiple injections has a needle that is replaced after each useNote: Medical pens are either disposable or reusable depending on whether the cartridge can be removed and replaced with a new prefilled one.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin and patients must give themselves multiple daily injections with insulin pens or syringes … The Republican (Springfield, Massachusetts) Illinois law allows schools to keep epinephrine pens around, and nurses or trained staff are allowed to use them in an emergency. Mike Riopell , The Chicago Daily HeraldMore from Merriam-Webster on pen
Nglish: Translation of pen for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pen
Last Updated: 26 Mar 2025 - 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!
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