platoon

1 of 2

noun

pla·​toon plə-ˈtün How to pronounce platoon (audio)
pla-
1
: a subdivision of a company-sized military unit normally consisting of two or more squads or sections
2
: a group of persons sharing a common characteristic or activity
a platoon of waiters
especially : a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body

platoon

2 of 2

verb

platooned; platooning; platoons

transitive verb

: to play (one player) alternately with another player in the same position (as on a baseball team)

intransitive verb

1
: to alternate with another player at the same position
2
: to use alternate players at the same position

Examples of platoon in a Sentence

Noun will need a platoon of assistants to mount the display at the spring flower show
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Expect a platoon at second base with left-handed hitting Marcelo Mayer and another right-handed bat. Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 Omer’s tank platoon was overrun by militants and he was killed, however his parents only learned of his death more than a year later. Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Even if New York still wants to platoon at first base, the future Hall of Fame candidate could cost more than New York is willing to offer a role player. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025 Kittle, rather than overdo it his first game back, could platoon with Jake Tonges. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for platoon

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French peloton small detachment, literally, ball, from Middle French pelote little ball — more at pellet

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1547, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1963, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of platoon was circa 1547

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Platoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platoon. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

platoon

noun
pla·​toon
plə-ˈtün,
pla-
1
: a part of a military company consisting of two or more squads
2
: a group of football players sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body

More from Merriam-Webster on platoon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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