squad

American  

[skwod] / skwɒd /

noun

• squads
  plural

1. a small number of soldiers, commonly 10 privates, a staff sergeant, and a corporal; the smallest military unit.

2. a group of police officers, especially one organized to deal with a particular area of law enforcement.

   drug squad; fraud squad.

3. any small group or party of persons engaged in a common enterprise.

4. a sports team or a group of players from which a team is selected.

5. Slang. a group of friends.

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verb (used with object)

squadded, squadding

1. to form into squads.

2. to assign to a squad.

squad British  

/ skwɒd /

noun

1. the smallest military formation, typically comprising a dozen soldiers, used esp as a drill formation

2. any small group of people engaged in a common pursuit

3. sport a number of players from which a team is to be selected

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• squads
  plural

Etymology

Origin of squad

1640–50; < French esquade, alteration of esquadre < Spanish escuadra square; so called from square shape of the formation

Explanation

A squad is a group, gang, or team, often made up of soldiers or police officers, but any gang will do. Some people call their group of friends a squad, probably so they seem organized and tough. An army squad might focus on demolition or sharpshooting, while a police squad specializes in one particular type of crime — like a vice squad, battling drugs and illegal gambling, or a riot squad, controlling large groups of protesters. Any team of people is a squad, like a cheerleading squad or a squad of teenage graffiti artists. Squad comes from the Vulgar Latin exquadra, "square," or the shape infantry troops historically assembled in to fight.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

squad squads squadding

Archer's return means the 50-over squad is close to full strength, bar the absence of wicketkeeper Jos Buttler who is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines following hamstring surgery.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Bulldogs prop King, born in Huddersfield while his Australian father David was a player there, features alongside fellow debutant Hugo Savala, part of Sydney Roosters' NRL Grand Final-winning squad.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Carragher, from Merseyside, spent his entire professional career with Liverpool and was part of the squad which won the Champions League in 2005.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Secondly, the mere fact that City were able to assemble a squad far better than their finances should have allowed.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Her coach bumped her down to the JV soccer squad because she couldn’t run fast enough.

From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Bethell's return to both squads is an indication of the selection decision England will face for the Test series in South Africa.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

They will finalise their squads on Monday with the latest batch of central contracts also set to be announced in the coming days.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

Most squads in the Premier League these days are packed with international players, and Brentford are no different.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

The RFU confirmed to BBC Sport the current requirements around 13 EQP players on average across matchday squads will remain.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

And then he told me that unfortunately he doesn't know any dance squads, dance groups, dance teams, dance troupes, or dance clubs.

From "Sunny" by Jason Reynolds

But Squadrons isn’t just great for its design or it’s incredible, game-wide VR option: it’s also a fun class-based multiplayer game, one that rewards squadding up with friends and coordinating different classes and abilities.

From The Verge ● Dec. 19, 2020

The only thing he left here is this old coat which he wore at squadding in the morning.

From My Neighbors Stories of the Welsh People by Caradoc Evans

Related Words

• band
• battalion
• division
• force
• gang
• group
• squadron
• troop