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especially : a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body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
The team perspective: For decades, Cleveland has struggled to develop homegrown outfielders, especially ones with bats so imposing there’s no need to limit them to a platoon role. Zack Meisel, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025 Another way the Red Sox could do this while keeping Yoshida in the fold would be to implement a platoon with him and Rafaela. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
The right-handed hitting Rafaela could start in center against lefties with Duran playing left, and perhaps Rob Refsnyder could also platoon with Abreu in right field as well. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2025 Heyward, 35, is expected to platoon in left field with fellow veteran Connor Joe, who agreed to his own deal earlier Friday. Dennis Lin, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Platoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platoon. Accessed 3 Mar. 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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