battalion

[ buh-tal-yuh n ]

/ bəˈtæl yən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR battalion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Military. a ground force unit composed of a headquarters and two or more companies or similar units.

an army in battle array.

Often battalions. a large number of persons or things; force: battalions of bureaucrats.

Nearby words

batsman, batt, batt., battailous, battalia, battalion, battani, batteau, battel, battels, battement

Origin of battalion

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

Related forms

sub·bat·tal·i·on, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for battalion

A battalion of riot police armed with shotguns arrived on the scene.
Honoring The Late John Doar, A Nearly Forgotten Hero Of The Civil Rights Era|Gary May|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Whether Ukrainian authorities have actually investigated the claims against the battalion's commander and its officers is unclear.
Corruption Eats Away at Ukraine Military|Charles McPhedran|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sergei is not the only soldier who has complained about the conduct of the commander and the officers in the 12th Battalion.
Corruption Eats Away at Ukraine Military|Charles McPhedran|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fighter Sergei was hopeful that judicial investigations have begun into the 12th Battalion when I first met him in September.
Corruption Eats Away at Ukraine Military|Charles McPhedran|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The battalion also is short of ammunition, Sergei says, but he insists he would still like to return to battle.
Corruption Eats Away at Ukraine Military|Charles McPhedran|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A regiment of infantry and a battalion of cavalry were put on guard and patrolled the streets to reduce the riotous to order.
From Fort Henry to Corinth|Manning Ferguson Force
The 28th Battalion party, thirty strong, commanded by Capts.
Canada in Flanders, Volume II (of 3)|Lord Max Aitken Beaverbrook
Division had decided otherwise, however, and had ordered up a battalion of the 126th brigade.
The Seventh Manchesters|S. J. Wilson
Once he stepped aside he could not be sure of ever rejoining his battalion.
The Point Of Honor|Joseph Conrad
The duke places his battalion of riflemen at our disposal, and will accept a command in the war.
Louisa Of Prussia and Her Times|Louise Muhlbach

British Dictionary definitions for battalion

battalion

/ (bəˈtæljən) /

noun

a military unit comprised of three or more companies or formations of similar size

(usually plural) any large array

Word Origin for battalion

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

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

battalion

noun

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of battalion

Related forms

Examples from the Web for battalion

British Dictionary definitions for battalion

battalion

noun

Word Origin for battalion