noun
pontoon
pon-TOON
Pontoon (noun) means a flat-bottomed float used to support a temporary bridge, dock, or platform on water. Example: “Engineers assembled a pontoon bridge to move troops across the river.”
noun
1
A flat-bottomed float used to support a temporary bridge, dock, or platform on water.
"Engineers assembled a pontoon bridge to move troops across the river."
"The floating dock rests on a row of pontoons."
2
A British card game similar to blackjack, where players try to reach 21 without going over.
"They played pontoon for matchsticks on New Year's Eve."
How to use pontoon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA floating support used for bridges and docks, or (in the UK) a blackjack-style card game.
UK vs US
The card game sense is mainly British; Americans would call it blackjack or twenty-one.
Common pairings
pontoon bridge
play pontoon
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Word forms
- Plural
- pontoons
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Engineers assembled a _____ bridge to move troops across the river.
Etymology
From Middle French ponton, from Latin pontō, "ferryboat," from pōns, "bridge."
Rhymes for pontoon
See all rhymes for pontoon →Frequently asked questions
What does “pontoon” mean?
The word “pontoon” means a flat-bottomed float used to support a temporary bridge, dock, or platform on water. In plain terms, a floating support used for bridges and docks, or (in the UK) a blackjack-style card game.
How do you pronounce “pontoon”?
“Pontoon” is pronounced pon-TOON (/pɒnˈtuːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “pontoon” in a sentence?
Here is “pontoon” used in a sentence: “Engineers assembled a pontoon bridge to move troops across the river.”
What part of speech is “pontoon”?
“Pontoon” is a noun.
Where does the word “pontoon” come from?
The word “pontoon” comes from Latin. From Middle French ponton, from Latin pontō, "ferryboat," from pōns, "bridge.".
How many meanings does “pontoon” have?
“Pontoon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flat-bottomed float used to support a temporary bridge, dock, or platform on water.
