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

But the Arms Control Association (ACA) NGO said this year the PLA now rotates missile battalions from stand-by to ready-to-launch status monthly. —Eric Cheung, CNN, 22 Sep. 2023

Ukrainian soldiers have also lost internet connection on the front lines in other regions, forcing battalions to retreat or commanders to drive into battle just to be in radio range. —Tori Otten, The New Republic, 7 Sep. 2023

The Fire Department responded with three pumper trucks, a ladder truck, a rescue truck, a medic and a battalion chief, a standard reply in that situation, Hyde said. —Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2023

Twenty-six years old in charge of 855 women, a battalion commander. —Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Sep. 2023

These can be used by the Navy’s two active-duty amphibious marine battalions. —Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 3 Sep. 2023

Now, the fan of Metallica and Nirvana engraves high-caliber machine gun shells with his battalion number, for charity, and collects battle artifacts from the front. —Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Aug. 2023

Zhao worked at the Naval Base Ventura County in Port Hueneme, which is home to several aircraft squadrons and the service’s naval construction battalions in the Pacific. —BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2023

Another person charged with involvement in the coup is a former commander of a parachute battalion in the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2023

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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

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