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: a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body
platooned; platooning; platoons
: to play (one player) alternately with another player in the same position (as on a baseball team)
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
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
But witnessing that scene Sunday night, even the most casual fan among a platoon of 50,000 disciples would grin at this once-implausible sight.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Maybe the approach then shouldn’t be to platoon Gonzalez, but to use him as an everyday player and move him around the way the club has with Ceddanne Rafaela.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for platoon
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
In the finale of Terminal List season one, Edwards served as the final name on James Reece’s (Pratt) terminal list, signifying the completion of Reece’s tour of vengeance after the mass execution of his former Navy SEALs platoon, as well as his wife and daughter.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2025
But witnessing that scene Sunday night, even the most casual fan among a platoon of 50,000 disciples would grin at this once-implausible sight.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Their outfield could use another right-handed bat to platoon in right field with Dominic Canzone, and Robles, who was very good in the second half for them last year, may have taken himself off the table.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Maybe the approach then shouldn’t be to platoon Gonzalez, but to use him as an everyday player and move him around the way the club has with Ceddanne Rafaela.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for platoon
Cite this Entry
“Platoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platoon. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share