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

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Etymology

Origin of squad

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

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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

The 2-3 Rams, who opened the season as Super Bowl favorites, released kicker Harrison Mevis after last Monday’s overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills and signed Grupe from the New York Jets practice squad.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Now, a surging Atlanta squad that hasn’t lost a game since August will take on its biggest test yet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Reese’s arrival this spring vaulted an already strong Dream squad into contention.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne remains in the squad but loses the gloves for the second Test, with Ryan Rickelton in line to keep wicket.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

Maybe one day we can try being a squad again.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

But it’s disheartening that Mr. Kozinski sees the Christa Pike case not as a reason to end executions but instead a reason to switch to a different method: firing squads.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Germany boss Jurgen Klopp named virtually two separate squads for his side's two pairs of games, while Ukraine made 10 changes between their first two games and then nine for their defeat by Northern Ireland.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

Klopp has chosen younger squads compared to the ones we saw in the past couple of years.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

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

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

They said that we had to have so many squads in the field, even if it was only on paper.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers

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

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Related Words

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

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