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

Along with heritage player Hope Millard, Barrow's new-look squad contains centre Connie Boyd, who crossed for a hat-trick on her debut.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Few of those selected for this tournament bear the scars of that encounter, with a youthful and dynamic squad featuring only six of the team from the Sin City debacle.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

But some at Old Trafford believe the squad should be doing much better, with one source telling BBC Sport: "We need to work hard to get through it."

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Martin inherited a broken, expensive squad, which had lost the faith and connection with supporters and a dressing room which let egos get in the way and lacked work ethic.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Then Julia’s squad comes over and grabs her, pulling her onto the dance floor with them.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

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

Clubs without the same expectation, like Brentford, Leeds and Hull, can concede possession and have built squads for that style.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

In the flavour of a trial-and-error principle, Klopp and his staff decided to select two almost completely different squads for the upcoming four games.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

While Premier League teams see their squads decimated by international call-ups, it is not quite as dramatic in the Championship.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

A colonel came down the beach with his entourage, exhorting the noncoms and junior officers to re-form and improvise squads.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson

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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