Meaning & use
battalion
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Meanings
nouncountable
A military unit made up of several companies, typically led by a lieutenant colonel.
Grammar: Countable; can be used with a singular or plural verb when referring to the group.
Patterns
- a battalion of soldiers
- join a battalion
- command a battalion
The battalion marched through the town at dawn.
He was promoted to command a battalion of infantry.
The battalion suffered heavy losses in the battle.
nouncountablefigurative
A large group of people organized for a purpose, often in a determined or aggressive way.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'a battalion of' to mean a large number.
Patterns
- a battalion of something
A battalion of lawyers descended on the courthouse.
She faced a battalion of reporters outside her door.
Word forms
| plural | battalions |
|---|
Common combinations
- infantry battalion
- The infantry battalion was sent to the front line.
- battalion commander
- The battalion commander gave the order to advance.
- join a battalion
- New recruits joined the battalion in the spring.
- a battalion of
- A battalion of volunteers cleaned the beach.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- battalion noun
- The base form; no common derived forms exist.
Commonly confused: battalion or brigade?
battalion vs brigade
A brigade is a larger unit that can contain several battalions; a battalion is smaller.
Practice
A battalion is typically commanded by a ______.
Choose one answer.
A battalion is usually led by a lieutenant colonel. A private is the lowest rank, a sergeant is non-commissioned, and a captain often commands a company, not a battalion.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “battalion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.