squad

[skwod]

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

squadded, squadding 

1. to form into squads.

2. to assign to a squad.

squad

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of squad¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of squad¹

C17: from Old French esquade, from Old Spanish escuadra, from escuadrar to _square , from the square formations used

Example Sentences

Hermoso was left out of the squad that finished as runners-up at Euro 2025, losing on penalties to England in Basel in July.

Read more on Barron's

Their squad depth is so strong and my feeling right now is that they are going to power their way to the title.

Read more on BBC

Lee, of course, was part of the “Golden Girls” squad alongside Simone Biles that brought home the team gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Cillo has yet to play a varsity game—so far he’s only seen limited action for the school’s JV squad—but simply making the Warriors roster turned him into a social media phenomenon.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Wednesday are second bottom of the Championship with six points from nine games after a torrid period off the field has left them with a threadbare squad.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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