pontoon

1 of 2

noun (1)

pon·​toon pän-ˈtün How to pronounce pontoon (audio)
Synonyms of pontoonnext
1
: a flat-bottomed boat (such as a lighter)
especially : a flat-bottomed boat or portable float used in building a floating temporary bridge
2
: a float especially of a seaplane

pontoon

2 of 2

noun (2)

British
: blackjack sense 1

Examples of pontoon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Sensors track cable stress by the minute and record pontoon depth down to a tenth of an inch. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 Start Saturday with a sweet treat from milkbread at the Davidson Farmers Market, where all produce is grown within 100 miles, then head to the lake for kayaking, paddle boarding or pontoon boating. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 27 Aug. 2026 Show visitors can browse a wide variety of craft, including bowriders, center consoles, deck boats, flats boats, fishing boats, jet boats, pontoons and surf boats. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2026 Come June, Winnipesaukee and its neighbors crowd with pleasure-cruisers in pontoon boats, sunbathers loll on every spare strip of sand, and the region’s small towns feel almost ludicrous in their quaint New England charms. — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pontoon

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French ponton, from Old French, from Latin ponton-, ponto

Noun (2)

perhaps alteration of vingt-et-un

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1917, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pontoon was in 1676

Phrases Containing pontoon

Rhymes for pontoon

See All Rhymes for pontoon

Browse Nearby Words

pontonier
pontoon
pontoon bridge
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pontoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pontoon. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pontoon

noun
pon·​toon
pän-ˈtün
1
: a flat-bottomed boat
2
: a float used in building a floating bridge
3
: a float of an airplane
Etymology

Noun

from French ponton "a floating bridge, punt," from Latin ponton-, ponto (same meaning), from pont-, pons "bridge" — related to punt entry 1

More from Merriam-Webster on pontoon

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