deployment

noun

de·​ploy·​ment di-ˈplȯi-mənt 

plural deployments

: the act or movement of deploying or the state of being deployed: such as

a

: placement or arrangement (as of military personnel or equipment) in position for a particular use or purpose

deployment of troops

deployment of a sales force

U.S. military assistance for hurricane relief efforts has delayed the deployment of additional forces to Afghanistan, the Pentagon said on Thursday.

—Reuters

… memories of the peace protests that in the 1980s greeted the deployment of nuclear-armed cruise missiles on Greenham Common in Berkshire.

—Tim Luckhurst

also : an instance of such placement (as in a battle zone) for a period of time

On breaks from his job as a guard at the prison Camp Bucca, Iraq … during his last deployment, in 2007, James would retreat to the camp's sand-swept outdoor court and try to perfect his shot.

—Kelli Anderson

b

: an instance of use that involves something opening and spreading out

a pilot's deployment of a parachute after ejecting from the cockpit

These components work together to fully deploy the air bag within 50 milliseconds of impact. After deployment, the air bag will deflate in approximately 100 milliseconds.

—Martin W. Stockel et al.

Examples of deployment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This deployment to Japan showcases the United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and our Allies and partners. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025

As one of only two women in her deployment unit, there were sometimes few places to turn for privacy. —Emily Fishbein, Hpan Ja Brang, The Dial, 17 Apr. 2025

Robert Weisberg, a professor at Stanford Law School, noted that the Supreme Court does have tools at its disposal to enforce its rulings, such as the issuance of injunctions on administrative actions and the deployment of U.S. marshals. —Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025

Two Marines based at Camp Pendleton but on a deployment with the Joint Task Force Southern Border were killed when their civilian vehicle rolled over on a road near a New Mexico town, Marine officials confirmed Wednesday, April 16. —Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French déploiement, from déployer "to unfurl, spread out, deploy" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing deployment

• counter-deployment

Rhymes for deployment

• employment
• enjoyment
• preemployment
• redeployment
• reemployment
• unemployment
• underemployment