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

The office of the military prosecutor in eastern Libya said the 10 people were executed by firing squad after yearslong trials. — ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026

Failed execution led to firing squad law Creech and Pizzuto are Idaho’s longest-serving death row prisoners. — Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 10 July 2026

The retrofit allows the prison to conduct executions by both firing squad and lethal injection. — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 1 July 2026

If convicted she could be executed by firing squad. — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for firing squad

• amphipod
• arthropod
• copepod
• decapod
• endopod
• escalade
• esplanade
• exopod
• gastropod
• goldenrod
• isopod
• ostracod

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