battalion

noun

bat·​tal·​ion bə-ˈtal-yən 

1

: a considerable body of troops organized to act together : army

2

: a military unit composed of a headquarters and two or more companies, batteries, or similar units

3

: a large group

Synonyms

• army
• array
• host
• legion

Examples of battalion in a Sentence

a battalion of angry protesters

the nation's battalions were forced to fight on two fronts simultaneously

Recent Examples on the Web

Trap has a Hitchcockian setup, in which a serial killer (the wonderfully nervy Josh Hartnett) brings his daughter to a pop concert and then must escape a battalion of police who are after him, without giving away his secret. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Dec. 2024

Part of a guarantor force—such as air defense and combat air patrols or a spearhead battalion to serve in a training role—could even be deployed while the war is still underway. —Elie Tenenbaum, Foreign Affairs, 3 Dec. 2024

With a fraught election right ahead, City Center is deploying Ragtime for maximum thematic impact, enlisting a battalion of theater stars to praise those wheels of a dream to the high heaven. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024

During training at a military battalion in the remote jungle, Freddy (18) performs all the rites of passage required to gain respect – Fighting, talking tough, putting up with the rigid schedule – but finally confronting his true identity. —John Hopewell, Variety, 29 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French bataillon, from Old Italian battaglione, augmentative of battaglia company of soldiers, battle, from Late Latin battalia combat — more at battle entry 1

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

battalion

noun

bat·​tal·​ion bə-ˈtal-yən 

1

: a large body of troops : army

2

: a military unit composed of two or more smaller units (as companies or batteries)

3

: a large body of persons organized to act together