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
On Christmas Day, a military tribunal sentenced him to death and executed him by firing squad.
—
Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Executions then resumed in 1977, when double murderer Gary Gilmore was put to death by firing squad.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
Batthyány was executed by firing squad.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
China's use of executions — carried out by firing squads or lethal injections — is shrouded in secrecy but has long been extensive.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firing squad
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Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
Executions then resumed in 1977, when double murderer Gary Gilmore was put to death by firing squad.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026
Batthyány was executed by firing squad.
—Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
China's use of executions — carried out by firing squads or lethal injections — is shrouded in secrecy but has long been extensive.
—ABC News, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for firing squad
Cite this Entry
“Firing squad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firing%20squad. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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