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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

peloton

And, more than ever before, he proved that his hold on the peloton is so suffocating that no one even dares attack him anymore.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026

The 27-year-old UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider crossed the line on Paris' Champs-Elysees in the peloton, to join Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain as the endurance event's most successful male riders.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 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

And on Sunday, the peloton will race up there three times to give the Tour its final showpiece of the summer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Telegraph to Morsbronn that the inspector of Imperial Police requires a peloton of mounted gendarmes at once.”

From The Maids of Paradise by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)