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 of squad

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

The team also has former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons and Jacoby Windmon on the practice squad. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 26 Dec. 2025

Sophomore Jace Simmons belongs to both the marching band and cheerleader squad. —Nashville Tennessean, 26 Dec. 2025

The basic premise was a really loud squad of radio VJs obnoxiously reacting to a weather chopper crash. —Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Dec. 2025

Washington, like every club, has a deep list of emergency replacements — free agents and practice squad players — that is updated continuously throughout the season and serves as its guide when players are lost to injury or illness. —Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 25 Dec. 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