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

Captain An Electric Boat Around Morro Bay Estero Adventures rents quiet electric pontoon boats that visitors operate themselves. — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

But nature is the real reason people step on his pontoon. — John Lauritsen, CBS News, 25 June 2026

Gear is provided, and the expert guides will navigate the pontoons, put the bait on the hook, and take the fish off for you. — Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 23 June 2026

Anyone who prefers a slower pace will enjoy renting a pontoon boat, kayaks, canoes, or stand-up paddleboards. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2026

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