firing squad

noun

1
: a detachment detailed to fire volleys over the grave of one buried with military honors
2
: a detachment detailed to carry out a sentence of death by shooting

Examples of firing squad in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This undated photo provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows the state's death chamber in Columbia, S.C., including the electric chair, right, and a firing squad chair, left. CBS News, 9 Apr. 2025 In 2025, as of April 7, 10 people have been executed in the U.S. by lethal injection, nitrogen gas or firing squad, and several more executions are scheduled this year. Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025 Look at you, 10 years old, being asked to imagine a girl’s death via firing squad! Gabra Zackman Emma Kehlbeck Ted Blaisdell, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025 The high courts in Georgia and Nebraska banned electrocution, and a circuit judge in South Carolina found both the firing squad and electric chair unconstitutional in 2022. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for firing squad

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of firing squad was in 1864

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Cite this Entry

“Firing squad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/firing%20squad. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

firing squad

noun
fir·​ing squad
ˈfī(ə)r-iŋ-
1
: a military unit assigned to fire shots over the grave of one buried with military honors
2
: a military unit assigned to carry out a sentence of death by shooting

More from Merriam-Webster on firing squad

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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