A battalion is a large group of soldiers that consists of three or more companies.
Anthony was ordered to return to his battalion.
He joined the second battalion of the Grenadier Guards.
Synonyms: company, army, force, team More Synonyms of battalion
2. countable noun
A battalionof people is a large group of them, especially a well-organized, efficient group that has a particular task to do.
There were battalions of highly paid publicists to see that such news didn't makethe press. [+ of]
More Synonyms of battalion
battalion in British English
(bəˈtæljən)
noun
1.
a military unit comprising three or more companies or formations of similar size
2. (usually plural)
any large array
Word origin
C16: from French bataillon, from Old Italian battaglione, from battaglia company of soldiers, battle
battalion in American English
(bəˈtæljən)
noun
1.
a large group of soldiers arrayed for battle
2.
any large group joined together in some activity
3. US Army
a tactical unit made up of three or more companies, batteries, or analogous units: it is normally commanded by a lieutenant colonel and is the basic building unit of a division
Word origin
MFr bataillon < It battaglione < battaglia < VL battalia, battle1
Examples of 'battalion' in a sentence
battalion
The troops came from one of three standby battalions ready to assist in emergencies.
The Sun (2017)
The battalion had three men killed last month.
The Sun (2009)
The battalion returned to trenches near Givenchy that were neither deep enough nor bulletproof.
Simon Ball THE GUARDSMEN (2004)
His battalion returned from Helmand just last week.
The Sun (2012)
The possibility of three infantry battalions being cut or merged has already been aired in Whitehall.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The Guards battalions formed three lines as they advanced up the incline.
Andrew Roberts, Series edited by Lisa Jardine and Amanda Foreman WATERLOO: Napoleon's Last Gamble (2005)
The camp is home to three battalions of the nation's army.
The Sun (2011)
The battalion has had three men killed this tour and more than 20 seriously injured.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Since then its three battalions have spent almost four years in southern Afghanistan.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
When York received these men he did not form them into new regiments but used them to form second battalions for existing regiments.
French, David The British way in Warfare - 1688-2000 (1990)
In 18 months he and his battalion will return to Afghanistan for their second tour.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The three battalions of Coldstream Guards lurched off to the left.
Simon Ball THE GUARDSMEN (2004)
All three Parachute Regiment battalions are safe.
The Sun (2012)
The battalion's advance units were pinned down, taking heavy fire from unseen insurgents in multiple positions.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Her battalion trains three days a week, in a flexible schedule which works around the women's domestic commitments.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I have seen battalions of them flying over the Guards barracks in Windsor at sunset.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
battalion
British English: battalion NOUN
A battalion is a large group of soldiers that consists of three or more companies.
He was ordered to return to his battalion.
American English: battalion
Brazilian Portuguese: batalhão
Chinese: 营 > 由三个或以上的连组成的
European Spanish: batallón
French: bataillon
German: Bataillon
Italian: battaglione
Japanese: 大隊
Korean: 대대
European Portuguese: batalhão
Latin American Spanish: batallón
1 (noun)
Definition
a military unit comprised of three or more companies
He was ordered to return to his battalion.
Synonyms
company
The division consists of two tank companies and one infantry company.
army
force
a pan-European peace-keeping force
team
host
unit
a secret military unit
division
troop
She was aware of a little troop of travellers watching them.
squad
The club is under investigation by the fraud squad.
corps
an officer in the Army Medical Corps
brigade
the men of the Seventh Armoured Brigade
regiment
...a regiment of hungry customers...
legion
The last of the Roman legions left Britain in AD 410.
contingent
squadron
military force
garrison
horde
multitude
detachment
a detachment of marines
throng
2 (noun)
battalions of highly paid publicists
Synonyms
crowd
It took some two hours before the crowd was fully dispersed.
army
data collected by an army of volunteers
host
A host of stars attended the awards ceremony.
pack
a pack of journalists who wanted to interview him
mass
A mass of excited people clogged the street.
mob
a growing mob of demonstrators
herd
large herds of elephant and buffalo
swarm
A swarm of people encircled the hotel.
horde
A horde of people was screaming for tickets.
multitude
the multitudes that surround the Pope
throng
An official pushed through the throng.
troupe
rabble
a rabble of gossip columnists
bevy
a bevy of reporters
Additional synonyms
in the sense of army
Definition
a large number of people or animals
data collected by an army of volunteers
Synonyms
vast number,
host,
gang,
mob,
flock,
array,
legion,
swarm,
sea,
pack,
horde,
multitude,
throng,
host (archaic)
in the sense of bevy
Definition
a flock
a bevy of reporters
Synonyms
group,
company,
set,
party,
band,
crowd,
troop,
pack,
collection,
gathering,
gang,
bunch (informal),
cluster,
congregation,
clump,
troupe,
posse (slang),
clique,
coterie,
assemblage
in the sense of brigade
Definition
a military formation smaller than a division and usually commanded by a brigadier