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: a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body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
Keith Law, New York Times, 16 June 2025
On the streets of Los Angeles, protesters will continue to be met with platoons of armed soldiers.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 12 Aug. 2024
They are slated to platoon Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu at the hot corner when LeMahieu returns from injury.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for platoon
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Noun
Lefties have hit three homers in 31 PA off him in the majors this year, and he’s got a backwards platoon split in his major-league time to date, which is going to inhibit him as a starter regardless of the uniform.
—Keith Law, New York Times, 16 June 2025
On the streets of Los Angeles, protesters will continue to be met with platoons of armed soldiers.
—Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2025
Verb
Jones and Chandler are likely to platoon a bit throughout the season, depending on availability and defensive matchups.
—Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 12 Aug. 2024
They are slated to platoon Oswaldo Cabrera and DJ LeMahieu at the hot corner when LeMahieu returns from injury.
—Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 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 3 Jul. 2025.
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