task force

American  

noun

1. Navy, Military. a temporary grouping of units under one commander, formed for the purpose of carrying out a specific operation or mission.

2. a group or committee, usually of experts or specialists, formed for analyzing, investigating, or solving a specific problem.

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task force British  

noun

1. a temporary grouping of military units formed to undertake a specific mission

2. any semipermanent organization set up to carry out a continuing task

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Etymology

Origin of task force

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

The urgency of a well-equipped force was on display last year, when a Chinese naval task force sailed around Australia and conducted live-fire drills between Australia and New Zealand.

From The Wall Street Journal

And his deputy leads a national task force on how to vet private, hard-to-value assets.

From The Wall Street Journal

Lara’s bill also follows a report issued last week by a smoke-damage task force he established last year, which established the framework for the bill.

From Los Angeles Times

The council established a task force to work out the details and return to the council within six months with recommendations on next steps, at which point the council would take another vote.

From Los Angeles Times

Patient advocates have lobbied the county Board of Supervisors to establish a similar task force, thus far unsuccessfully.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• crew