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platoon

platoon

119 5.8
A group of people organized to work or fight together
  • noun
  • /pləˈtuːn/
translation icon : pelotón
  • I was the oldest man in the platoon, used to physical exertion.
  • platoon leader
  • platoon commander
  • platoon sergeant

And this was like your elite platoon within the battalion.

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Examples

  • The IDF soldiers, on the platoon level and even company level, experienced bitter and intense fighting.

    Academic text (2015)
  • The rain pours down on the men of the platoon as they sit in a camp.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • "You and your platoon will attack said hill and take it."

  • During the last years of the war, the platoon was the combat unit.

    Academic text (1990)
  • I got separated from my platoon.

  • These men often served in platoons or companies with their friends from school or work.

  • A code red was ordered by my platoon commander, Lt. Jonathan James Kendrick.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The soldiers moved as one unit, ready to support their platoon during the mission.

  • She felt proud to be part of a platoon that trained hard for their upcoming deployment.

  • The platoon practiced maneuvers every week to ensure they could respond quickly in the field.

Synonyms

unit
vsplatoon
2.8

A group of people in an organization who have a specific job

is specifically about groups formed to work, act, or fight together
squad
vsplatoon
702 2.4

A small group of people organized to do one job, like in the army or sports

refers to a comparably sized organized group used in military and civilian areas
section
vsplatoon
389 2.4

A group within a larger organization, like an orchestra or company team

is about a formed team working or fighting together rather than administrative grouping
outfit
vsplatoon
112 4.8

A group like a company or team that works together

is the formal idea of an organized group used in official contexts
troop
vsplatoon
98 3.2

A group of soldiers organized to fight or carry out military tasks

is the neutral term for any organized group acting together across contexts
military unit
vsplatoon
15 2.8

A group of soldiers that does a specific task

is similar but also applies beyond strictly armed forces contexts
army unit
vsplatoon
5 2.5

A group of soldiers organized as part of an army, like a platoon or company

is focused on the group itself rather than its place in an army
infantry unit
vsplatoon
3 4.3

A group of soldiers who fight on foot

is the same organized group idea but not limited to foot soldiers
military group
vsplatoon
2 3.1

A unit of soldiers organized to do a specific job for the armed forces

is broader in use, also covering police or sports groupings
peloton
vsplatoon
  • Specialized
9.3

A small group of soldiers who move and fight together

is the general term for a small organized group used in many fields

Antonyms

2.3

A single person or animal regarded separately from a group

How Big

battalion
  • Specialized
150 7.2
company
329 2.4
platoon
119 5.8
team
1.0
squad
702 2.4
pair
889 1.0

Surface Forms

platoon singular
platoons plural

Etymology

Platoon comes from the French word peloton meaning 'small ball' or 'little group'. Soldiers once formed tight groups that looked like a small ball, which is why a platoon is a small unit of people who work or fight together.