pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän 

-lən

1

a

: a usually massive gateway

b

: an ancient Egyptian gateway building in a truncated pyramidal form

c

: a monumental mass flanking an entranceway or an approach to a bridge

2

a

chiefly British : a tower for supporting either end of usually a number of wires over a long span

b

: any of various towerlike structures

3

a

: a post or tower marking a prescribed course of flight for an airplane

b

: traffic cone

c

: one of the flexible upright markers positioned on a football field at the corners of the end zone

4

: a rigid structure on the outside of an aircraft for supporting something (such as an engine or missile) see airplane illustration

Illustration of pylon

• pylon 1b

Examples of pylon in a Sentence

The bridge is supported by concrete pylons.

a row of electricity pylons

Recent Examples on the Web

Under duress, Mahomes lofted a pass toward the pylon and Worthy. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2025

Elena recalled that Norman couldn’t sleep; he was tortured by his decision to make the pylons white. —Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025

Kamara made a spectacular over the shoulder one-handed grab just inside the pylon against the Washington Commanders on Sunday before tumbling over at full speed out of bounds on the play. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024

Buffalo ran five consecutive times to end a 13-play drive, with Ray Davis punctuating his score from five yards out with a dive into the snow, past the pylon. —Andrew Greif, NBC News, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek pylōn, from pylē gate

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän 

-lən

1

: a tower for supporting a long span of wire

also : any of various structures like a tower

2

: a post or tower marking a prescribed course of flight for an airplane

Medical Definition

pylon

noun

py·​lon ˈpī-ˌlän  -lən 

: a simple temporary artificial leg