firing squad

noun

1
: a detachment detailed to fire volleys over the grave of one buried with military honors
2
: a detachment detailed to carry out a sentence of death by shooting

Examples of firing squad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Earlier this year, attorneys representing a group of South Carolina's death row inmates argued before the South Carolina Supreme Court that both electrocution and the firing squad as execution methods should constitute cruel and unusual punishment. CBS News, 19 Sep. 2024 Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and Idaho are the only other states that allow the firing squad method. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 9 Oct. 2024 The Death Penalty has been a hot topic as the country heads toward another presidential election in which the Republican candidate is rallying for the return of the firing squad and the Democratic ticket removed all mention of the issue from their platform. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024 Owens was asked to choose between lethal injection, the electric chair and firing squad two weeks ago, according to the corrections department, but instead granted his attorney, Emily Paavola, the power to make the decision, court documents show. Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for firing squad 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'firing squad.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of firing squad was in 1864

Dictionary Entries Near firing squad

Cite this Entry

“Firing squad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firing%20squad. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

firing squad

noun
fir·​ing squad
ˈfī(ə)r-iŋ-
1
: a military unit assigned to fire shots over the grave of one buried with military honors
2
: a military unit assigned to carry out a sentence of death by shooting

More from Merriam-Webster on firing squad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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