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

Yet what this film really nails is the battalion camaraderie that goes beyond spending hours, days, weeks with the same folks and flips into something else entirely once shots are fired. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025

Fire Department spokeswoman Aisha Knowles said the first battalion chief on scene requested a second alarm, which brought more than 30 firefighters to the scene. —Harry Harris, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025

The Officers’ Affairs Office oversees recruitment into the brigades, divisions, and battalions. —Dominique Soguel, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Apr. 2025

Although he was acquitted of the six counts against him, including insubordination, the court-martial prevented him from deploying to fight in Europe with his battalion. —Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 23 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for battalion

• italian
• medallion
• scallion
• stallion

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