squad
Americannoun
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a small number of soldiers, commonly 10 privates, a staff sergeant, and a corporal; the smallest military unit.
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a group of police officers, especially one organized to deal with a particular area of law enforcement.
drug squad; fraud squad.
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any small group or party of persons engaged in a common enterprise.
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a sports team or a group of players from which a team is selected.
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Slang. a group of friends.
verb (used with object)
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to form into squads.
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to assign to a squad.
noun
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the smallest military formation, typically comprising a dozen soldiers, used esp as a drill formation
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any small group of people engaged in a common pursuit
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sport a number of players from which a team is to be selected
Etymology
Origin of squad
1640–50; < French esquade, alteration of esquadre < Spanish escuadra square; so called from square shape of the formation
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.
Vocabulary lists containing squad
"Siberian Survivors" and "Tigers in the Wild"
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"Brave Butterflies"
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Kareem Between
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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 RZA, the GZA, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Method Man, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna represent hip-hop’s greatest squad and one of the last standing from the genre’s golden era in the 1990s.
From Salon • May 31, 2026
Ex-England forward Sue Smith echoed that sentiment, saying next season provides a "different test" for Jeglertz and his squad.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
The Bafana Bafana squad and staff need permission to enter the US as they play their second World Cup game against the Czech Republic in Atlanta.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
It left the squad mediocre and unbalanced as expensive new acquisitions spluttered or suffered injuries, while their recruitment team failed to deliver one of their most significant targets.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
A handpicked squad led by him would carry out the mission.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
