Pentagon Meaning
/ˈpɛn.təˌɡɑn/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA polygon with five sides and five angles.
nounA fort with five bastions.
Sentence Examples
A pentagon is a shape with five sides.
I wear this tinfoil hat to keep the Pentagon from spying on me.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The famous military headquarters is a building with five sides shaped like a ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense in Arlington, Virginia.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French pentagone, from Late Latin pentagōnum, from Ancient Greek πεντάγωνον (pentágōnon), noun use of the neuter of the adjective πεντάγωνος (pentágōnos, “five-angled”), from πέντε (pénte, “five”) + -γωνος (-gōnos, “angled”). Equivalent to penta- + -gon.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Imagine a vast sheet of paper on which straight Lines, Triangles, Squares, Pentagons, Hexagons, and other figures, instead of remaining fixed in their places, move freely about, […]"
— 1884, A Square [pseudonym; Edwin A. Abbott], Flatland […] , London: Seeley & Co., Part I: This World, § 1.— Of the Nature of Flatland, page 3:
"The Vietnamese people inspired youth of all nationalities […] by demonstrating that the determination of a people to fight for their sovereignty and right to self-determination was an unconquerable force, even in the face of Pentagon might."
— 2006 August 24, Leslie Feinberg, “Many histories converged at Stonewall”, in Workers World:
"Asked by CNN what measures DHS was taking after the Pentagon leaks, Mayorkas said the department issued a reminder to employees and that he had directed a review."
— 2023 May 16, Priscilla Alvarez, “DHS directs review of personnel with access to classified material in wake of Pentagon leak”, in CNN:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The famous military headquarters is a building with five sides shaped like a ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The ____ is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense in Arlington, Virginia.