search party

noun

1. a group of persons conducting an organized search for someone or something lost or hidden.

search party

noun

1. a group of people taking part in an organized search, as for a lost, missing, or wanted person

Word History and Origins

Origin of search party¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

She joins a search party, and she’s hooked on this thrill of helping find the body of this missing girl, and then decides to start pursuing leads.

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The family organised search parties, which involved up to 300 people at times in the later stages of their search.

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Christian Aldridge, who was part of Ms Bond's party, said the group had to organise their own search party to try to find her on the mountain.

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In 1859, a message found by a search party on King William Island stated that both the Erebus and the Terror were trapped in ice in late 1846 and remained so for about eighteen months.

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Vashi has cheated investors, staff and the taxman, but the search party is surprisingly small.

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Related Words

• detachment