squadron

American  

[skwod-ruhn] / ˈskwɒd rən /

noun

• squadrons
  plural

1. a portion of a naval fleet or a detachment of warships; a subdivision of a fleet.

2. an armored cavalry or cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops, a headquarters, and various supporting units.

3. (in the U.S. Air Force).

   1. the basic administrative and tactical unit, smaller than a group and composed of two or more flights.

   2. a flight formation.

4. a number of persons grouped or united together for some purpose; group.

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verb (used with object)

1. to form into a squadron or squadrons; marshal or array in or as if in squadrons.

squadron British  

/ ˈskwɒdrən /

noun

1. 1. a subdivision of a naval fleet detached for a particular task

   2. a number of naval units usually of similar type and consisting of two or more divisions

2. a cavalry unit comprising two or more troops, headquarters, and supporting arms

3. the basic tactical and administrative air force unit comprising two or more flights

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• half-squadron
  noun
• subsquadron
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• squadrons
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of squadron

1555–65; < Italian squadrone, equivalent to squadr ( a ) square + -one augmentative suffix

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Explanation

In the military, a squadron is a small unit sent out from the main group to do some particular task. In the air force, for example, a squadron might fly out on a surveillance mission. This word comes from the military, but the meaning varies depending on the branch. In the army, a squadron is a cavalry (horses) unit that has at least two troops, which are smaller collections of soldiers. The squadron also includes a headquarters and support. In the air force, a squadron has at least two flights, which are the equivalent of troops. An air force squadron is smaller than a group and bigger than a flight in the basic chain of command.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

squadron squadrons

The public inquiry was set up in 2022, following reporting by BBC Panorama that linked one SAS squadron to 54 suspicious deaths on a single six-month tour of Afghanistan.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

However, Israel's ministry of foreign affairs announced in May, external that it would procure another F-35 squadron.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

During the best fight scene, Peter takes on a squadron of gravity-defying ninjas in a brawl that takes place as much in the air as on the ground.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

The United States Navy will deploy a nuclear-powered submarine squadron to a strategic Australian navy port this year, Canberra's defence minister said on Friday.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

A squadron of French fighter jets came screaming from Zeke’s kneecap.

From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness

Pakistan already has 8,000 troops in Saudi Arabia, along with 16 Chinese-made JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, combat drone squadrons and a surface-to-air missile battery.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, is one of two quick reaction alert stations that protect UK airspace with combat-ready squadrons of Typhoon jets.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

The Pentagon also is rotating Air Force fighter squadrons in the region with Air National Guard F-16s replacing warplanes that are returning to the U.S. base at Aviano, Italy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

The intensity of the operations took a toll on the Lincoln, whose squadrons flew more than 10,000 sorties during the deployment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

In just a few years, it will grow by thirty combat divisions and one hundred aircraft squadrons, and its navy will be larger and stronger than the navies of the United States and Britain combined.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

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Related Words

• armada
• battalion
• fleet
• squad

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