1
: a subdivision of a company-sized military unit normally consisting of two or more squads or sections
2
: a group of persons sharing a common characteristic or activity
a platoon of waiters
especially
: a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body
platooned; platooning; platoons
: to play (one player) alternately with another player in the same position (as on a baseball team)
1
: to alternate with another player at the same position
2
: to use alternate players at the same position
Synonyms
Examples of platoon in a Sentence
Noun
will need a platoon of assistants to mount the display at the spring flower show
Recent Examples on the Web
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
Fraley has yet to have a healthy season with the Reds but has shown glimpses of being more than a left-handed platoon outfielder.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2025
The decision to platoon Walker never fully made sense.
—Katie Woo, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for platoon 
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Noun
With the Mets eying a title, a third base platoon doesn’t seem like a good idea.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2025
Fraley has yet to have a healthy season with the Reds but has shown glimpses of being more than a left-handed platoon outfielder.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
The alternative would be to start or platoon some combination of DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza at second or third.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2025
The decision to platoon Walker never fully made sense.
—Katie Woo, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for platoon
Dictionary Entries Near platoon
Cite this Entry
“Platoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platoon. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
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