search party

American  

noun

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

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search party British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of search party

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.

From Salon

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

From BBC

"I went and spoke to the staff personally and said, 'We're missing a friend, we think she's still on the mountain, you need to get a search party'."

From BBC

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.

From Literature

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

From BBC

Related Words

• detachment