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: a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body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
Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Outfield requires far more starting spots, and most of those available later in drafts are locked in platoons.
—Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
In practice, drafters who invest at his current cost often end up needing to platoon him, shuffling him in and out of the lineup based on home/road splits, which is awkward for a third or fourth outfielder.
—Derek Vanriper, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for platoon
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Noun
Their one stab at it did not work as Evan Engram morphed into a platoon player.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Outfield requires far more starting spots, and most of those available later in drafts are locked in platoons.
—Dalton Del Don, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
Castellanos, who could platoon with Gavin Sheets during the season, made his second Cactus League start at first base on Tuesday afternoon and had two hits.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
In practice, drafters who invest at his current cost often end up needing to platoon him, shuffling him in and out of the lineup based on home/road splits, which is awkward for a third or fourth outfielder.
—Derek Vanriper, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for platoon
Cite this Entry
“Platoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platoon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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