platoon
/pləˈtuːn/noun, verb
platoon is spelled P-L-A-T-O-O-N: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 3.3 times per million words in written English, the 14,509th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, platoon means “A unit of thirty to forty soldiers typically commanded by a lieutenant and forming part of a company” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of platoon is platoons.
How many letters and syllables are in platoon?
| Letters | 7: P-L-A-T-O-O-N |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 3.3 times per million words; the 14,509th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is platoon?
Platoon appears 3.3 times per million words in written English, the 14,509th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce platoon?
- UK /pləˈtuːn/
Platoon has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-platoon.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with platoon?
5 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as platoon from its last stressed vowel (/un/, British pronunciation):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of platoon
- platoons plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- platooning participle, present
- platooned participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does platoon mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A unit of thirty to forty soldiers typically commanded by a lieutenant and forming part of a company.
- 2
A subdivision of a fire company, led by a captain or lieutenant.
- 3
A group of self-driving vehicles travelling in a close convoy and communicating electronically with each other.
- 4
A group of children in the platoon grouping education system.
verb
- 1
To alternate starts with a teammate of opposite handedness, depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher
Taylor has been hitting poorly against left-handers, and Morgan has been hitting poorly against right-handers, so they will platoon.
- 2
To specialize in a particular position or playing style.
- 3
Of self-driving vehicles: to travel in a close convoy, each vehicle communicating electronically with the others.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate platoon?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of platoon: plt.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Platoon in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense unit of 30-40 soldiers:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does platoon come from?
From obsolete French plauton, variant of peloton, from Middle French pelote + -on. Doublet of peloton. Compare pellet.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).