swat
/swɑt/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.46 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Acronym of special weapons and tactics, the area of expertise of police officers trained and equipped to neutralize armed or entrenched criminals.
American usage; Countable; Uncountable
noun
Alternative spelling of swot: vigorous study at an educational institution.
verb
To illegitimately provoke a SWAT assault upon (someone).
American usage; Slang; Transitive verb
name
A district of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
name
A valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
Example Sentences
- "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."
- ""This situation is out of control. We need a SWAT," the policeman said."
- "He swatted the mosquito that was buzzing around in his bedroom."
- "The cat swatted at the feather."
- "2017, Jennifer S. Holland, For These Monkeys, It’s a Fight for Survival., National Geographic (March 2017)http://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2017/03/macaques-monkeys-indonesia-endangered-pet-trade/ During my first day in the woods, Raoul, the big alpha male of Rambo II, opened wide to show me his dagger-sharp canines, then sauntered by and swatted my calf with a stick—letting me know my place in the social order. (Low.)"
- "However, Johnstons luck seems to have run out, as it is hit almost simultaneously by three 18-inch shells and three 6.1-inch shells from Yamato, which has decided to swat' the irritating vessel."
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.
Word Breakdown
- Root: سوات
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /swɑt/
- British English: /swɒt/
Usage
- American usage
- Countable
- Uncountable
- Transitive verb
- Slang