squad

American  

[skwod] / skwɒd /

noun

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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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.

Example Sentences

In previous years, when the economy got tougher, Best Buy could lean on its Geek Squad tech assistants to set itself apart from rivals.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 25, 2026

Meetings of the God Squad are so rare that the committee has gathered only three times in its existence.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026

Former Philippine justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who served as lawyer for Duterte in cases involving the so-called Davao Death Squad, is also among the eight men named.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

The festival began early in the morning with a parade around Lerwick, allowing the Jarl Squad to show off their custom-made suits, helmets and shields.

From BBC • Jan. 27, 2026

“Dun-dee-dun-dun-dun! ‘When trouble calls, it’s Dog Squad to the rescue!’”

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• band
• battalion
• division
• force
• gang
• group
• squadron
• troop