battalion

[ buh-tal-yuhn ]

noun

1. Military. a ground force unit composed of a headquarters and two or more companies or similar units.
2. an army in battle array.
3. Often battalions. a large number of persons or things; force:

   battalions of bureaucrats.

battalion

/ bəˈtæljən /

noun

1. a military unit comprised of three or more companies or formations of similar size
2. usually plural any large array

Other Words From

• subbat·tali·on noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of battalion¹

1580–90; < Middle French bataillon < Italian battaglione large squadron of soldiers, equivalent to battagli ( a ) battalia ( def ) + -one augmentative suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of battalion¹

C16: from French bataillon , from Old Italian battaglione , from battaglia company of soldiers, battle

Example Sentences

A battalion of riot police armed with shotguns  arrived on the scene.

From The Daily Beast

Whether Ukrainian authorities have actually investigated the claims against the battalion's commander and its officers is unclear.

From The Daily Beast

Sergei is not the only soldier who has complained about the conduct of the commander and the officers in the 12th Battalion.

From The Daily Beast

Fighter Sergei was hopeful that judicial investigations have begun into the 12th Battalion when I first met him in September.

From The Daily Beast

The battalion also is short of ammunition, Sergei says, but he insists he would still like to return to battle.

From The Daily Beast

But one battalion was isolated on a spur, from which there seemed no way of escape save under a scorching flank fire.

From Project Gutenberg

Two-thirds of each Battalion were sound asleep in pools of mud and water—like corpses half buried!

From Project Gutenberg

On my way back to the beach I saw the Plymouth Battalion as it marched in from the front line.

From Project Gutenberg

Lannes enlisted in the second battalion of the volunteers of Gers, and was at once elected sub-lieutenant by his fellow-citizens.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally a second battalion of infantry arrived under the command of Colonel Stotsenberg, who was very popular with his men.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• army
• contingent
• corps
• legion
• squadron
• unit