pontoon

1 of 2

noun (1)

pon·​toon pän-ˈtün 

1

: a flat-bottomed boat (such as a lighter)

especially : a flat-bottomed boat or portable float used in building a floating temporary bridge

2

: a float especially of a seaplane

pontoon

2 of 2

noun (2)

British

: blackjack sense 1

Examples of pontoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rent bikes, kayaks, golf carts, and even pontoon boats. —Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2025

Just for a minute, my husband and I agree, because the weather is beautiful, because my son does look like my father, because the pontoon is big and fancy and the baby has never been on a boat before. —Julie Buntin, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

On Tuesday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told Morning Edition that he's been traveling across the state on a pontoon boat, mourning with the families of recently deceased residents and helping those who were displaced. —Destinee Adams, NPR, 18 Feb. 2025

Rent a pontoon boat at Mountain Cove Marina, stop by the Douglas Dam Overlook for panoramic views and exhibits on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s history, or take a picnic to the shoreline and do a little birding. —Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French ponton, from Old French, from Latin ponton-, ponto

Noun (2)

perhaps alteration of vingt-et-un

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1917, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pontoon

• pontoon bridge
• pontoon plane

Rhymes for pontoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

pontoon

noun

pon·​toon

pän-ˈtün

1

: a flat-bottomed boat

2

: a float used in building a floating bridge

3

: a float of an airplane

Etymology

Noun

from French ponton "a floating bridge, punt," from Latin ponton-, ponto (same meaning), from pont-, pons "bridge" — related to punt entry 1