firing squad

American  

noun

• firing squads
  plural

1. a military detachment assigned to execute a condemned person by shooting.

2. a military detachment assigned to fire a salute at the burial of a person being honored.

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firing squad British  

noun

1. a small military detachment formed to implement a death sentence by shooting

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• firing squads
  plural

Etymology

Origin of firing squad

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

firing squad

Their most famous works include “The Execution of Christ,” in which a firing squad of Mao’s take aim at Jesus.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Adding the firing squad in Arizona requires a constitutional amendment because the state’s constitution explicitly describes the sole methods of execution allowable for the state.

From Slate ● Feb. 24, 2026

Arenales gallantly stepping up to support Espinal against a social firing squad sparked a flame between the two.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2025

The only sure fact for now is Mr Krieger – who had been facing death by firing squad – has been spared.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2024

It was a true account of the death before an American firing squad of Private Eddie D. Slovik, 36896415, the only American soldier to be shot for cowardice since the Civil War.

From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut