squadron

[skwod-ruhn]

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

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

squadron

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• half-squadron noun
• subsquadron noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of squadron¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of squadron¹

C16: from Italian squadrone soldiers drawn up in square formation, from squadro _square

Example Sentences

Huncho 0tf replied: "Tell your superiors I can get any type of information not only in my squadron but I have mates in the SAS."

Read more on BBC

Professionals don’t bring squadrons to chase after tamale ladies or day laborers, or stage flashy raids of apartments and parks that accomplish little else than footage for propaganda videos.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"It's a strain. It's hard. It's obviously the biggest violence you can give to a pilot," said Dutch squadron commander Bram Versteeg.

Read more on Barron's

The squadron earned its “Gunfighters” nickname during the Vietnam War and has since served in major operations including Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The props turn slowly in unison—calibrating, calibrating—then spool furiously, a squadron of lawn mowers on deck.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• armada 
• battalion 
• fleet 
• squad