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

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

Her commander called her the best battalion officer in the brigade. —Arman Khan, Them., 3 Oct. 2025

The future belongs to a smaller pool of elite innovators — not vast back-office battalions. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025

The promo confirms that Burke’s battalion chief Vince died in the memory care building fire where he, along with his wife, Cal Fire Division Chief Sharon (Diane Farr), and his father, retired battalion chief Walter Leone (Jeff Fahey), were trapped with the roof collapsing on them. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2025

Vince's loss appears to have sent ripples throughout the community and left Station 42 looking for a new battalion chief — a job Bode believes is his for the taking. —Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025

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