platoon

1 of 2

noun

pla·​toon plə-ˈtün How to pronounce platoon (audio)
pla-
1
: a subdivision of a company-sized military unit normally consisting of two or more squads or sections
2
: a group of persons sharing a common characteristic or activity
a platoon of waiters
especially : a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body

platoon

2 of 2

verb

platooned; platooning; platoons

transitive verb

: to play (one player) alternately with another player in the same position (as on a baseball team)

intransitive verb

1
: to alternate with another player at the same position
2
: to use alternate players at the same position

Examples of platoon in a Sentence

Noun will need a platoon of assistants to mount the display at the spring flower show
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Since early 2023, Witch has been with her platoon in the 241st Brigade in the area around Bakhmut, supervising all of the artillery systems. Nicole Tung, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 In 2006, on his first assignment heading a platoon of 25 in Germany, one of his soldiers, an 18-year-old woman, attempted suicide. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 The topic of his platoon leader, a Pennsylvania politician named Sean Parnell, came up. Matt Farwell, Harper's Magazine, 13 Dec. 2023 The brigade lost at least platoon—four or five—of its Leopard 2A6s. David Axe, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 Trending on Billboard With them there was a platoon of top-notch guests, the same ones from Vultures 1. Billboard Italy, Billboard, 23 Feb. 2024 Unlike the old days, with the endless immigration lines and platoons of Homeland Security agents stamping passports, the commercial terminal now required you to simply step onto an auto-walk, which trundled you through a concourse the length of a couple football fields. Elliot Ackerman, WIRED, 5 Feb. 2024 Then, in succession, each platoon shouted its name: Wolfpack! Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register, 29 Jan. 2024 According to Israel, 2 of 5 brigade commanders, 19 of 24 battalion commanders, and more than 50 platoon commanders have been eliminated. Raphael S. Cohen, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2024
Verb
Currently, the Dodgers appear likely to platoon in right field with Jason Heyward and Chris Taylor. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2024 Walker originally was supposed to platoon at first base with Jake Lamb, but Lamb injured his left quadriceps seven games into the season. Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023 The left-handed hitter should platoon at third base until Evan Longoria recovers from a back injury. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023 This could be a good time to platoon Gonzalez with Will Brennan in right field. Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 14 July 2023 Originally, Heyward seemed set for a bench role backing up Chris Taylor in center, likely to platoon against right-handed pitchers and provide defensive versatility late in games. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2023 Kotsay suggested Pache, a right-handed hitter, might platoon in center with fellow rookie Cal Stevenson, a left-handed hitter. Steve Kroner, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Aug. 2022 The Tigers would benefit a right-handed hitter to platoon with Nick Maton, a left-handed hitter, at third base. Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2023 Grossman, a switch hitter who has been much more effective against left-handers, gives the Braves an outfielder who can platoon with lefty-hitting Eddie Rosario and serve as a replacement for Adam Duvall, who recently underwent season-ending wrist surgery. Paul Newberry, Chron, 2 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'platoon.' 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

Noun

French peloton small detachment, literally, ball, from Middle French pelote little ball — more at pellet

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1963, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of platoon was circa 1547

Dictionary Entries Near platoon

Cite this Entry

“Platoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platoon. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

platoon

noun
pla·​toon
plə-ˈtün,
pla-
1
: a part of a military company consisting of two or more squads
2
: a group of football players sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body

More from Merriam-Webster on platoon

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