pontoon

1 of 2

noun (1)

pon·​toon pän-ˈtün 

1

: a flat-bottomed boat (such as a lighter)

especially : a flat-bottomed boat or portable float used in building a floating temporary bridge

2

: a float especially of a seaplane

pontoon

2 of 2

noun (2)

British

: blackjack sense 1

Examples of pontoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rent kayaks, paddleboards or pontoon boats onsite to access the best secluded spots. —Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2025

Rentals for kayaks, paddleboards or pontoon boats available. —Allison Palmer, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2025

Book an inexpensive two-hour pontoon boat tour up the Indian River Lagoon. —Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2025

Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park and nearby marinas offer rentals of fishing boats, houseboats, pontoon boats, jet skis, and more. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 16 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French ponton, from Old French, from Latin ponton-, ponto

Noun (2)

perhaps alteration of vingt-et-un

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1917, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pontoon

• pontoon bridge
• pontoon plane

Rhymes for pontoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

Kids Definition

pontoon

noun

pon·​toon

pän-ˈtün

1

: a flat-bottomed boat

2

: a float used in building a floating bridge

3

: a float of an airplane

Etymology

Noun

from French ponton "a floating bridge, punt," from Latin ponton-, ponto (same meaning), from pont-, pons "bridge" — related to punt entry 1