- a subunit of a company usually comprising three sections of ten to twelve men: commanded by a lieutenant
- a group or unit of people, esp one sharing a common activity, characteristic, etc
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pla•toon /pləˈtun/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
v.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Militarya military unit consisting of two or more squads or sections and a headquarters.
- Sporta group of football players specially trained in one part of the game.
v.
- Sportto use (a player) at a position in a game alternately with another player, or to alternate two different teams or units: [~ + object]The coach platooned his team, using one squad for offense and the other for defense.[no object]Because of injuries the coach wasn't able to platoon.
pla•toon
(plə to̅o̅n′),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
v.i.
- Militarya military unit consisting of two or more squads or sections and a headquarters.
- a small unit of a police force.
- a company or group of persons:a platoon of visitors.
- Sport[Football.]a group of players specially trained in one aspect of the game, as offense or defense, and used as a unit:a halfback on the offensive platoon.
v.t.
- Sport
- to use (a player) at a position in a game alternately with another player or players.
- to alternate (two different teams or units), as separate offensive and defensive squads.
v.i.
- Sport
- to alternate at a position with another player or players.
- to use players alternately at the same position.
- to alternate different teams.
- French peloton little ball, group, platoon, diminutive of pelote ball. See pellet, -oon
- earlier plotton 1630–40
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
platoon /pləˈtuːn/ n
'platoon' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):