battalion

American  

[buh-tal-yuhn] / bəˈtæl jən /

noun

battalions plural

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.

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battalion British  

/ bəˈtæljən /

noun

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

2. (usually plural) any large array

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• subbattalion
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• battalions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of battalion

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

Explanation

A battalion is a unit of an army. One battalion usually consists of three or more companies and a headquarters. The word battalion sounds a lot like battle, and that's a clue to its meaning: battalions are groups engaged in a battle. Specifically, a battalion is a smaller segment of an army. Within a battalion, there will usually be a headquarters, as well as a few smaller units, which are called companies. The members of a battalion will work closely together, whether they are attacking an enemy or defending a base. Veterans always remember the other soldiers in their battalion.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

battalion battalions

Explosions had also been heard in Bakhchisarai, Kerch and in the area of Mount Ai-Petri, where the radio engineering battalion of the Russian Aerospace Forces is based.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

As imagined by director Travis Knight—best known for another toys-to-screen saga, 2018’s “Transformers” sequel “Bumblebee”—and a battalion of screenwriters, the new He-Man, lost prince from the planet Eternia, is a meek cubicle dweller named Adam.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

“The bottom line is, if he says we’re leaving, you’re leaving,” the former battalion chief said of supervisors at the Lachman fire.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026

A well-regarded battalion commander in Yemen’s armed forces, Ashaal, then 42, worked a sideline in real estate with a partner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026

Word had come that a second North Vietnamese battalion was moving toward the area.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

That success, and the money that nourishes it, has battalions of fans beyond Los Angeles all but marching outside ballparks with picket signs reading “SALARY CAP NOW.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2026

Inside the courtroom, Gonzalez Rogers showed a mix of humor and toughness as she wrangled battalions of dark-suited attorneys lined up against each other in the wood-paneled room.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

The remaining two battalions were operating at a “medium level,” the military said.

From New York Times ● Jun. 17, 2024

Under an agreement with the Kenyan government, up to six infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya.

From BBC ● May 30, 2024

Fellas in other battalions know him as First Sergeant Daniels, but he’s always been Shep to us.

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool

Related Words

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