SWAT squad
- noun
- /swɑt skwɑd/
- US
:
unidad SWAT
- The SWAT squad was called in to manage the hostage situation at the bank.
Examples
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During the tense standoff, the SWAT squad deployed to secure the area and negotiate with the suspect.
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That was strictly soldier business, SWAT squad, riot squad.
-
So wait for the SWAT squad and pull out your M-16 in the meantime.
Blog text (30) -
The local news reported that the SWAT squad executed a successful operation to apprehend the armed criminal.
Synonyms
49
3.9
A group of police trained to handle dangerous incidents like hostage situations
A police unit trained to handle violent situations like hostage crises and armed standoffs
A group of police officers with special training and weapons who handle very dangerous situations like armed suspects or hostages
How Specialized
- US
- US
28
4.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
SWAT + squad
The headword 'squad' (a small purposeful team) is transparent, but the crucial information comes from the initialism 'SWAT' (Special Weapons And Tactics), which is not a regular lexical item and is unlikely to be analyzable by a B1 learner from its form alone. Because a learner who knows the acronym's expansion will immediately get the meaning but one who only knows 'squad' will not, the expression is only partially predictable from its parts.
Etymology
SWAT squad gets its name from the short form SWAT, which comes from the words 'Special Weapons And Tactics' and was used for police teams with extra weapons and training. Picture officers in heavy gear entering a dangerous scene, so SWAT squad now means a police team trained to handle violent or high-risk situations.