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

“The arrival of our squadron dispelled the danger.”

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

At the start of the month, Starmer said four additional jets would be sent to Qatar following the deployment of the Royal Air Force's joint UK-Qatari Typhoon squadron in January.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

He attended test pilot school at Edwards Air Force Base, the site of many daring Armstrong flights and space shuttle landings, then served with the Navy’s Dust Devil test pilot squadron in China Lake, Calif.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026

From 1934 to 1938 she flew in a display squadron that performed thrilling aerobatic tricks.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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

He said the eight sailors included "the Lincoln crew and sailors from the carrier airwing, strike group and destroyer squadron staff, escorting destroyers and all embarked aviation squadrons".

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

There is already more than 1,000 British personnel deployed in the region as part of existing defensive operations, including counter-drone teams and fast jet squadrons, the ministry said.

From BBC ● May 12, 2026

It also has several squadrons of F-15E fighters in Jordan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

The pilots and navigators of the 587th kept a long-running volleyball competition going whenever they got a free moment, with the two flight squadrons making up their opposing teams.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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Related Words

• armada
• battalion
• fleet
• squad

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