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

Austen Pleasants made his first career start in Williams' place with Brandon Parker elevated from the practice squad for the game as a reserve. —CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026

Both squads traded slippery setbacks, but the Panthers just seemed out of sync for most of the first half. —Mike Kaye updated January 3, Charlotte Observer, 4 Jan. 2026

Souleymane Coulibaly was a last-minute addition to Ivory Coast’s squad for the Under-17 World Cup in 2011. —Jay Harris, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026

Orlando escaped Indiana with a 112-110 victory, but those three techs could have shifted the outcome of the contest in a different direction had Jamahl Mosley‘s squad not been more careful. —Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026

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