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 of battalion

• army

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

The organization conducted a review of the department that found the LAFD needs 62 new fire stations, 4,000 additional firefighters, dozens of new dispatchers, seven new battalions, and emergency management service substations. — City News Service, Daily News, 23 June 2026

Vital to the Southers’ battle plan is the use of genetic infantrymen, a battalion of clones whose thoughts can be downloaded on to a chip and reused if the host body is destroyed. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 June 2026

John Leavell, battalion chief with the Spokane Valley Fire Department, was one of the first people to spot the fire. — ABC News, 17 June 2026

But times were changing, and Fergie was among the Colored men assigned to what would become a fourth battalion in the third contingency of the British West Indies Regiment. — Literary Hub, 16 June 2026

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

Rhymes for battalion

• italian
• medallion
• scallion
• stallion

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