WordGarden.ioplatoon
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /plətˈuːn/
US
- /pləˈtun/
Meanings
Noun
a military unit that forms part of a company
a sports arrangement that alternates players based on matchups
Verb
to alternate players in sports based on matchups
Beyond the definition
Imagine a large army moving as one. It is not just a single crowd. It is divided into smaller groups that can move, train, and fight together. One of those groups is a platoon. It usually has about 20 to 50 soldiers, is often led by a lieutenant, and is part of a larger company.
The word "platoon" comes from the French word peloton, meaning a "small ball" or "clump." You will hear it most often in military contexts, as in "She was assigned to an infantry platoon." It can also appear in sports, especially when two groups of players take turns based on the situation. More general uses, like "a platoon of volunteers," do exist, but they are less common.
A platoon is a military unit typically made up of about 20 to 50 soldiers and serves as one of the basic building blocks in an army's structure. It sits in the middle of the chain: smaller than a company, which often contains several platoons, and larger than a squad or section. A platoon is often led by a lieutenant, who is responsible for the unit's training, discipline, and field operations.
The term comes from the 17th-century French word peloton, which literally meant a "small ball" or "knot" of people. That image fits well: a close group of soldiers moving and acting together with a shared purpose.
Historically, platoons were important for organized musket fire and flexible battlefield movement. In modern warfare, they still serve as key units for carrying out specific missions. You might read, "The first platoon moved under cover of darkness to secure the bridgehead," or hear, "The recruits trained together until they could operate smoothly as a platoon."
Outside the military, the word also has a clear use in sports. A coach may use a platoon system, rotating one group of players in one situation and another group in a different one. More loosely, people sometimes use the word for any small, organized group, as in "a platoon of volunteers," though that use is more figurative than exact. In every case, the idea is the same: a defined group working together as part of something larger.
Examples
- 1
Military movement
The platoon moved quietly through the village before dawn.
- 2
Military command
She took command of the platoon during the training exercise.
- 3
Large group
The company sent a whole platoon of lawyers to the meeting.
- Patterna platoon of + people
a large group, often more than seems necessary
- 4
Baseball strategy
The coach platooned two young outfielders for most of the season.
- Domainin baseball, platoon players
use two players in the same position at different times
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- platoonnoun
Forms
- platoonspluralnoun