squad

1 of 2

noun

ˈskwäd 

1

: a small organized group of military personnel

especially : a tactical unit that can be easily directed in the field

2

: a small group engaged in a common effort or occupation

squad

2 of 2

verb

squadded; squadding

transitive verb

: to arrange in squads

Synonyms

Noun

• team
• army
• crew
• platoon

Examples of squad in a Sentence

Noun

the cleaning squad usually arrives after regular business hours

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

On the play Warner got hurt, the 49ers were missing a right defensive end, and coaches mistakenly assumed practice-squad call-up Trevis Gipson stayed on the field to fill that role after racing down on kickoff coverage and making the initial hit on a tackle. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025

When the Riverside squad—part of the top teenage-basketball travel program in the country—arrived for its opening game in Springfield, Walker sat on the bench the entire first half. —Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 17 Oct. 2025

But this squad composed of only African American players gradually gained popularity in the basketball world. —NPR, 17 Oct. 2025

Tel was left out of the Champions League squad but has started two league games. —Mark Carey, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French esquade, from Old Spanish & Old Italian; Old Spanish escuadra & Old Italian squadra, ultimately from Vulgar Latin *exquadrare to make square — more at square

First Known Use

Noun

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1802, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing squad

• bomb squad
• death squad
• firing squad
• flying squad
• squad car
• squad room
• vice squad

Rhymes for squad

• awed
• baaed
• baud
• bawd
• brod
• clawed
• cod
• flawed
• fraud
• gnawed
• god
• jawed

Kids Definition

squad

noun

ˈskwäd

1

: a small organized group of soldiers

especially : a small unit that can be easily directed in the field

2

: a small group engaged in a common effort or occupation

a football squad

a rescue squad