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

Later in June, a 27-year-old driver of a pontoon boat dove into the lake. —Gavin Off, Charlotte Observer, 17 June 2024

The Lake Alma Boathouse offers canoes, kayaks, paddleboards, pedal boats, and pontoon boats for rent in the spring, summer, and fall. —Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 11 June 2024

Watercraft options available to rent include donut boats, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, pontoon boats, pedal boats and electric boats. —Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 27 May 2024

No one can believe it, not me, not Jax, not the needles on the pine trees of Big Bear, not the gnats cavorting in the lake, not the pontoon boats or the bait shops, not Scheana’s ex, Rob, or his giant television. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 May 2024

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

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