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Est. 1828

DictionaryDefinition
 verb (1)
 noun (1)
 noun (2)
 verb (2)
 noun (3)
 noun (4)
 abbreviation (1)
 abbreviation (2)


 Synonyms
 Example Sentences
 Word History
 Phrases Containing
 Entries Near

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pen
1 of 8

verb (1)
ˈpen
penned; penning
Synonyms of pen
transitive verb
: to shut in or as if in a pen
The cattle were penned behind a wooden fence.

pen
2 of 8

noun (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 2

pen
3 of 8

noun (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 Konrad
—

pen
4 of 8

verb (2)
penned; penning
transitive verb
: WRITE, INDITE
pen a letter

pen
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noun (3)
: a female swan

pen
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noun (4)
: PENITENTIARY

pen
7 of 8

abbreviation (1)
peninsula

PEN
8 of 8

abbreviation (2)
International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and
Novelists

Synonyms
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

pound
Noun (2)

author

litterateur

littérateur

penman

scribe

scrivener

writer
Verb (2)

author

scratch (out)

scribble

write
Noun (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 Thesaurus

Examples of pen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Acevedo penned the book after her former eighth-grade students
complained about the lack of relatable characters in YA literature. —
Boutayna Chokrane, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2023When adapting the play into a
musical after said death, Oliver pens a patter song for Charles (Steven
Martin) that is heard a few times throughout the remainder of the
season. Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 29 Dec. 2023See More
—

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate
current usage of the word 'pen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent
those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History
Etymology
Verb (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 Use

Verb (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 century

Phrases Containing pen

 ballpoint pen
 bull pen

 pen friend

 pen name

 light pen

 put pen to paper

 pen up

 pen pal

 pen in

See More

Dictionary Entries Near pen

Pemphredonidae
pen
PEN
See More Nearby Entries
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Style