squad

The word “squad” means a small organized group, especially of soldiers, police, or athletes. In plain terms, a small group organized for a task, like a police or sports squad; informally, a group of close friends.

“Squad” is pronounced SKWOD (/ˈskwɑd/ in IPA).

Here is “squad” used in a sentence: “The bomb squad was called in to secure the area.”

“Squad” is a noun.

The word “squad” comes from French. From French escouade, from Italian squadra ("square"), the same root that gives us "square" and "squadron.".

“Squad” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Squad” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small organized group, especially of soldiers, police, or athletes.

A squad is a small, organized unit, often the wider pool of members from which an active group is drawn — common in the military, police, and sport. A team is the specific group actually fielded to play or work together. In football, the squad is everyone available, while the team is the eleven who start.

The word covers several kinds of group. In the military, a squad is a small unit of soldiers, usually led by a sergeant. Police forces run squads such as bomb, drug, or homicide squads. In sport, a squad is the full roster of players. Informally, your squad is also a close circle of friends.

There is no fixed number, but a squad is always small. A military squad typically holds around eight to twelve soldiers under one leader. A sports squad might list twenty to thirty players competing for a starting place. The key idea is that a squad is a compact, organized group rather than a large crowd.

In modern slang, your squad is your tight-knit group of friends — the people you spend time with and rely on. Popularized by social media, it carries a sense of loyalty and belonging. The related phrase "squad goals" describes friendships or lifestyles that others admire and aspire to have themselves.