peloton

¹ American  

[pel-uh-ton, pel-uh-ton, plaw-tawn] / ˈpɛl əˌtɒn, ˌpɛl əˈtɒn, plɔˈtɔ̃ /

noun

Cycling.

1. a large pack or cluster of bicyclists in a road race, riding closely together to reduce wind resistance and conserve their energy.

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peloton ² American  

[pel-uh-ton, pel-uh-ton, plaw-tawn] / ˈpɛl əˌtɒn, ˌpɛl əˈtɒn, plɔˈtɔ̃ /

noun

1. an ornamental glass made in Bohemia in the late 19th century, usually having a striated overlay of glass filaments in a different color.

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peloton British  

/ ˈpɛləˌtɒn /

noun

1. cycle racing the main field of riders in a road race

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Etymology

Origin of peloton¹

First recorded in 1935–40; from French: literally, “little ball (especially of thread), small body of soldiers”; see also platoon ( def. ), peloton ²

Origin of peloton²

First recorded in 1710–20; from French: literally, “ball, ball of string,” equivalent to pelote “ball” + -on diminutive suffix; see pellet, peloton ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peloton

A five-man breakaway got up the road early on, but with 100km remaining the peloton started to reel them in.

From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026

Plouffe, 27, who rides for British continental team O'Shea Red Chilli Bikes, said the incident happened on a roundabout as she was chasing back to the peloton, following a puncture on Wednesday.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Eventually the rest of the Tour de France’s field—yes, the peloton, like the exercise bike you converted into a coat rack—would be tested in similar fashion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

The rue Lepic, the steep 1-kilometer stretch that punches up through the 18th arrondissement and leads the peloton toward the Sacré-Coeur basilica, is a more recent addition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

I looked up: an equipage was passing from the gate, a peloton of dragoons escorted it; a second followed at full speed.

From Tom Burke Of "Ours", Volume II by Charles James Lever

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