SWAT en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /swɒt/ (UK)
- /swɑt/ (US)
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Middle English especial English special Proto-Germanic *wēpną Proto-West Germanic *wāpn Old English wēpn Middle English wepen English weapons Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *h₂énti Proto-Germanic *andi Old English and Middle English and English and Proto-Indo-European *teh₂g-der. Proto-Hellenic *tat͏̌t͏̌ō Ancient Greek τάσσω (tássō) Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Hellenic *-tis Ancient Greek -τῐς (-tĭs) Ancient Greek -σῐς (-sĭs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) ? Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Hellenic *-tós Ancient Greek -τος (-tos) ▲ Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) ? Ancient Greek -τικός (-tikós) Ancient Greek τακτικός (taktikós)bor. New Latin tacticabor. English tactics English S.W.A.T. English SWAT From S.W.A.T., from special + weapons + and + tactics.
Meanings
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(US, abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, countable, uncountable) Acronym of special weapons and tactics, the area of expertise of police officers trained and equipped to neutralize armed or entrenched criminals.
alt of special weapons and tactics
After Trump won the 2024 election and rumors of a cost-cutting-and-efficiency SWAT team began to swirl, Dudek asked people he knew at big tech companies for introductions to potential DOGE members.
2025 September 8, Eli Hager, “The Untold Saga of What Happened When DOGE Stormed Social Security”, in ProPublica:
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(US, countable, uncountable) A SWAT team.
"This situation is out of control. We need a SWAT," the policeman said.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWATs | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| S.W.A.T. | alternative | lexicographic |