# platoon

> English word · Noun · IPA /pləˈtuːn/ · frequency rank #14,614

## Definitions
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.

## Etymology
From obsolete French plauton, variant of peloton, from Middle French pelote + -on. Doublet of peloton. Compare pellet.

## Easily confused with
- **pontoon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/platoon-vs-pontoon)
- **platoons** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/platoon-vs-platoons)
- **Plato** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/plato-vs-platoon)
- **Paton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/paton-vs-platoon)
- **patron** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/patron-vs-platoon)
- **Patton** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/patton-vs-platoon)

## Common misspellings (10)
`lpatoon`, `paltoon`, `plaoton`, `platon`, `platono`, `platoonn`, `plattoon`, `pllatoon`, `pltaoon`, `pplatoon`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/platoon