pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän 

-lən

1

a

: a usually massive gateway

b

: an ancient Egyptian gateway building in a truncated pyramidal form

c

: a monumental mass flanking an entranceway or an approach to a bridge

2

a

chiefly British : a tower for supporting either end of usually a number of wires over a long span

b

: any of various towerlike structures

3

a

: a post or tower marking a prescribed course of flight for an airplane

b

: traffic cone

c

: one of the flexible upright markers positioned on a football field at the corners of the end zone

4

: a rigid structure on the outside of an aircraft for supporting something (such as an engine or missile) see airplane illustration

Illustration of pylon

• pylon 1b

Examples of pylon in a Sentence

The bridge is supported by concrete pylons.

a row of electricity pylons

Recent Examples on the Web

After being cleared for takeoff and taxying on the runway, the plane started to take off when its left engine and pylon, a structural component that connects the engine to the wing of the plane, separated from the wing of the plane, the preliminary report found. —Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Nov. 2025

The plane was due for a special detailed inspection of the pylons and wings within about 8,000 miles. —Addy Bink, The Hill, 20 Nov. 2025

Each wing engine is attached by a pylon connected to the wing through forward and aft mounts. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 Nov. 2025

Kittle caught 9 of 9 targets for a season-high 84 yards and scored on a dazzling, tight-rope lunge to the pylon in the fourth quarter. —Matt Barrows, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek pylōn, from pylē gate

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for pylon

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon

Kids Definition

pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän 

-lən

1

: a tower for supporting a long span of wire

also : any of various structures like a tower

2

: a post or tower marking a prescribed course of flight for an airplane

Medical Definition

pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän  -lən 

: a simple temporary artificial leg