Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

task force

American  

noun

  1. Navy, Military. a temporary grouping of units under one commander, formed for the purpose of carrying out a specific operation or mission.

  2. a group or committee, usually of experts or specialists, formed for analyzing, investigating, or solving a specific problem.


task force British  

noun

  1. a temporary grouping of military units formed to undertake a specific mission

  2. any semipermanent organization set up to carry out a continuing task

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of task force

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The regiment provides close support combat engineering to 7th Light Mechanised Brigade, known as the "Desert Rats", which is part of Nato's "Very High Readiness" task force.

From BBC

One problem, if you can believe it, is that no oncologists are on the 16-member task force.

From The Wall Street Journal

The administration in March 2025 started a task force to open federal lands for housing development, but little progress has been made on that plan.

From The Wall Street Journal

By 6 p.m., the gas company had shut off both sides of the gas line, but firefighters and a hazmat task force continued to respond to a residual leak.

From Los Angeles Times

It has created task forces to combat the issue and rescued foreigners from scam compounds.

From The Wall Street Journal