Definition

1. Noun:
   • A five-sided polygon: A flat, closed geometric figure with five straight sides and five angles.
   • The United States military establishment: A term used to refer collectively to the leadership and bureaucracy of the U.S. armed forces.
   • A government building with five sides: Specifically, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington, Virginia.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Geometric Shape):
  • A regular pentagon has five equal sides and five equal angles.
  • The children drew a pentagon on the chalkboard.
• Noun (Military Establishment):
  • The decision was made by the Pentagon after careful deliberation.
  • Pentagon officials briefed the press on the new strategy.
• Noun (Building):
  • The Pentagon is one of the world's largest office buildings.
  • The tour group visited the Pentagon last week.

Advanced Usage

• "The Pentagon": When capitalized and preceded by the definite article "the," it almost exclusively refers to the U.S. Department of Defense building or the institution it houses.
  • The report was leaked from within the Pentagon.
• "Pentagon-shaped": Used as an adjective to describe something with the form of a pentagon.
  • She wore a pentagon-shaped pendant.

Variants and Related Words

• Pentagonal (adj): Having the shape of a pentagon.
  • The courtyard was pentagonal.
• Pentagram (n): A five-pointed star, often drawn with a pentagon at its center.
  • The symbol featured a pentagram inside a circle.

Synonyms

• Five-sided figure: (For the geometric shape).
• The Defense Department: (For the U.S. military establishment).
• The War Department: (An older, historical term for the institution).

Related Phrases

• Pentagon Papers: A historical term referring to a top-secret U.S. government report on the Vietnam War.
  • The publication of the Pentagon Papers was a major event.
• Pentagon budget: Refers to the defense budget of the United States.
  • Congress is debating the new Pentagon budget.

Noun

1. a five-sided polygon
2. the United States military establishment
3. a government building with five sides that serves as the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense