squadron
gb/skwˈɑdɹən/ us/skwˈɑdɹən/
C1
English
~ 6600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
entity
1
military unit of aircraft
A group of military airplanes and the people who fly and look after them, forming one unit in the air force or navy.
Usage pattern:
a squadron of [aircraft]; a [fighter/bomber] squadron
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *squadron* to mean any military group on land. In modern English, it is most often used for groups of aircraft in an air force or naval air arm. For general military groups, words like *unit*, *company*, or *platoon* are more common.
Synonyms
unit (A general word for a military group; it does not specifically refer to aircraft.)
Antonyms
individual (Highlights a single person or aircraft, in contrast to an organized group like a squadron.)
Collocations
fighter squadron
|bomber squadron
|air force squadron
|training squadron
|naval air squadron
|combat squadron
Themes
military
|transport
|politics
|transportation
Examples
- The fighter squadron was scrambled within minutes to intercept the unknown aircraft.
- She was the first woman to command a front-line combat squadron in her country.
- Three helicopter squadrons were deployed to support the relief operation after the flood.
- The bombing campaign involved more than a dozen bomber squadrons flying nightly missions.
Learner examples
- The air force squadron took off at dawn.
- His brother serves in a helicopter squadron.
- A fighter squadron protects the city from the air.
- The navy created a new training squadron for young pilots.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
2
naval group of warships
A group of warships in a navy that work together as one unit.
Usage pattern:
a squadron of [warships]; a [destroyer/cruiser] squadron
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with the more common air force meaning. When the context clearly involves ships or a navy, *squadron* refers to a group of warships.
Synonyms
flotilla (Also a group of ships, but often smaller or less formal than a full squadron and not always strictly military.)
Antonyms
single ship (Refers to one vessel acting alone, as opposed to a coordinated naval squadron.)
Collocations
naval squadron
|battle squadron
|destroyer squadron
|cruiser squadron
|carrier battle squadron
Themes
military
|sea
|politics
|transportation
Examples
- The destroyer squadron was ordered to escort the aircraft carrier through the strait.
- A naval squadron patrolled the disputed waters throughout the summer.
- During the battle, the cruiser squadron advanced to engage the enemy fleet.
Learner examples
- A naval squadron guarded the coast.
- The fleet sent a destroyer squadron to the area.
- The squadron of warships moved together across the sea.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
cavalry or armored unit
A group of soldiers on horses or in tanks that forms one unit in an army, used mainly in military history or special army terms.
Usage pattern:
a [cavalry/tank/armored] squadron
Common mistake:
Learners may assume *squadron* always involves aircraft. In some military writing, especially about history, it can mean a unit of cavalry or tanks instead. This use is much less common in everyday modern English.
Synonyms
company (A similar-sized army unit, but *company* is the standard term for infantry and is more general than the specialized use of *squadron*.)
Antonyms
civilian (Refers to people not serving in the military, the opposite of a structured military unit like a squadron.)
Collocations
cavalry squadron
|tank squadron
|armored squadron
|horse-mounted squadron
Themes
military
|history
|politics
Examples
- The cavalry squadron charged across the field at dawn.
- In the new structure, each tank squadron will consist of three troops of armored vehicles.
- The museum display explains how a typical horse-mounted squadron was organized in the 19th century.
Learner examples
- The book tells the story of a cavalry squadron.
- Each tank squadron had many vehicles.
- The army formed a new armored squadron for the operation.
Noun
informal
C1
entity
4
large group of people or things
A large group of people or things, said in a slightly funny or dramatic way by comparing them to a military unit.
Usage pattern:
a squadron of [people/things]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use this figurative sense in serious military contexts, where it sounds strange. Use this meaning only when you want a slightly humorous or dramatic way to say “a large group,” especially of people like reporters or waiters.
Synonyms
horde (Also means a large group, but often sounds more chaotic or threatening than *squadron*.)
Antonyms
handful (Means only a small number, the opposite of the large group implied by *squadron* in this sense.)
Collocations
a squadron of waiters
|a squadron of reporters
|a whole squadron of guards
|a squadron of photographers
Themes
everyday_life
|humor
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A squadron of reporters followed the actor out of the courthouse.
- We were served by a whole squadron of waiters at the wedding reception.
- A squadron of security guards appeared as soon as the alarm went off.
Learner examples
- A squadron of photographers waited outside the hotel.
- Suddenly a squadron of waiters came to our table.
- A squadron of guards walked into the room.
Grammar
Dictionary form
squadron
IPA
GB/skwˈɑdɹən/
US/skwˈɑdɹən/
Syllables & stress
squad - ron (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (squad)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: squadron
- Plural: squadrons
Word family
Forms
squadrons
noun
Related words
squad
noun A2
Expressions
bomber squadron
1/bˈɑmɚ skwˈɑdɹən/
fixed phrase
technical
squadron of bomber aircraft
A military air unit made mostly of bombers that are used to drop bombs on targets.
Examples
- The bomber squadron carried out night raids on enemy supply lines.
- During the war, he served in a heavy bomber squadron based overseas.
fighter squadron
1/fˈaɪtɚ skwˈɑdɹən/
fixed phrase
technical
squadron of fighter aircraft
A military air unit made mostly of fighter jets or fighter planes.
Examples
- The air force is forming a new fighter squadron to protect the capital.
- Two fighter squadrons were placed on high alert after the incident.
naval air squadron
1/nˈeɪvəl ˈɛɹ skwˈɑdɹən/
fixed phrase
technical
navy aviation squadron
A group of military aircraft that belongs to the navy instead of the air force.
Examples
- The carrier’s naval air squadron specializes in anti-submarine warfare.
- Several naval air squadrons took part in the joint exercise.
search and rescue squadron
1/sˈɚt͡ʃ ˈænd ɹˈɛskju skwˈɑdɹən/
fixed phrase
technical
search-and-rescue air squadron
A group of aircraft and crews whose main job is to find and save people in danger, for example at sea or in the mountains.
Examples
- The search and rescue squadron was dispatched after the boat sent a distress call.
- She joined a search and rescue squadron that responds to emergencies in remote areas.