squadron

noun

squad·​ron ˈskwä-drən How to pronounce squadron (audio)
1
: a unit of military organization: such as
a
: a cavalry unit higher than a troop and lower than a regiment
b
: a naval unit consisting of two or more divisions and sometimes additional vessels
c(1)
: a unit of the U.S. Air Force higher than a flight and lower than a group
(2)
: a military flight formation
2
: a large group of people or things
a squadron of limos

Examples of squadron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Patrol squadrons were once based at Kaneohe Bay, but now deploy to Hawaii on a rotational basis. CBS News, 21 Nov. 2023 The Space Force’s own squadrons, Saltzman told me, were still tracking pieces of junk that date to the 2007 explosion. Jon Gertner, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2023 Ishaan plays Captain Mehta of the 45th Cavalry tank squadron who fought on India’s eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971, which led to the creation of Bangladesh. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Nov. 2023 The airbase, which is one of the busiest military airfields in the U.K., is home to a number of frontline squadrons and training units. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023 Along with the Ford, the U.S. is sending the cruiser USS Normandy, destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney and USS Roosevelt, and the U.S. is augmenting Air Force F-35, F-15, F-16 and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons in the region. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2023 The jet belongs to a training squadron of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. Josh Cradduck, NBC News, 22 Sep. 2023 The jet belongs to one of the training squadrons in the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the major East Coast aviation unit of the U.S. Marine Corps. Phil McCausland, NBC News, 18 Sep. 2023 As pro-Moscow army men in Mali angrily turned against Paris, France withdrew its peacekeeping forces there and shifted them to friendlier Niger, which also houses a squadron of U.S. drones and a detachment of U.S. Special Forces. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 28 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'squadron.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian squadrone, augmentative of squadra squad, from Old Italian

First Known Use

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of squadron was in 1562

Dictionary Entries Near squadron

Cite this Entry

“Squadron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squadron. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

squadron

noun
squad·​ron ˈskwäd-rən How to pronounce squadron (audio)
: any of several units of military organization
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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