platoon

American  

[pluh-toon] / pləˈtun /

noun

1. a military unit consisting of two or more squads or sections and a headquarters.

2. a small unit of a police force.

3. a company or group of persons.

   a platoon of visitors.

4. Football. a group of players specially trained in one aspect of the game, as offense or defense, and used as a unit.

   a halfback on the offensive platoon.

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verb (used with object)

1. Sports.

   1. to use (a player) at a position in a game alternately with another player or players.

   2. to alternate (two different teams or units), as separate offensive and defensive squads.

verb (used without object)

1. Sports.

   1. to alternate at a position with another player or players.

   2. to use players alternately at the same position.

   3. to alternate different teams.

platoon British  

/ pləˈtuːn /

noun

1. military a subunit of a company usually comprising three sections of ten to twelve men: commanded by a lieutenant

2. a group or unit of people, esp one sharing a common activity, characteristic, etc

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Etymology

Origin of platoon

1630–40; earlier plotton < French peloton little ball, group, platoon, diminutive of pelote ball. See pellet, -oon

Explanation

A platoon is a military unit made up of squads. If you’re in a war zone, you might see a platoon of soldiers guarding a checkpoint. Military branches such as the army, navy, air force, or marines are broken down into smaller groups. One is a platoon, which is part of a company and made up of squads. A platoon usually has its own headquarters and is under the command of a lieutenant. In a war, platoons will be stationed in places according to strategy — the platoon might be attacking or defending. Platoon (1986) is also the name of a war movie about Vietnam.

Example Sentences

Seven years later, he was first nominated for an Oscar for the Vietnam war film Platoon.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2024

Released on Aug. 30 via Platoon and 36 Chambers, “A Ballet Through Mud” was created after RZA found an old notebook during the pandemic filled with lyrics he’d written as a teen.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2024

Mr. Stanton had sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, asking him to personally ensure that members of the Female Tactical Platoon would have their asylum cases promptly adjudicated through U.S.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

Platoon members carried gas masks and gear to wear over their uniforms to protect them from the chemical weapons the U.S. believed — wrongly — that Iraqi forces might use against them.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2023

“They mostly give orders. Blue Platoon report for watch. All Cadets to the armory. That sort of thing. Right now they’re ordering a sweep of the eastern tunnels.”

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

Related Words

• batch
• detachment
• patrol
• squad
• squadron