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

On Tuesday, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear told Morning Edition that he's been traveling across the state on a pontoon boat, mourning with the families of recently deceased residents and helping those who were displaced. —Destinee Adams, NPR, 18 Feb. 2025

Rent a pontoon boat at Mountain Cove Marina, stop by the Douglas Dam Overlook for panoramic views and exhibits on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s history, or take a picnic to the shoreline and do a little birding. —Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 9 Feb. 2025

Rivera was reported missing after renting a pontoon boat with Josey and falling out. —John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025

Cruise Arkansas River Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center will host pontoon boat trips on the Arkansas River from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 8-9. —Flip Putthoff, arkansasonline.com, 30 Dec. 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

Rhymes for pontoon

• attune
• baboon
• balloon
• bassoon
• buffoon
• cartoon
• cocoon
• festoon
• gaboon
• harpoon
• immune
• impugn

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