death squad

noun

1. any of various groups of assassins, especially in Central America, whose members murder political dissidents, petty criminals, etc., usually with the tacit approval of the government.

Word History and Origins

Origin of death squad¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has admitted that he kept a "death squad" to crack down on crime while mayor of one of the country's largest cities.

From BBC

"I can make the confession now if you want. I had a death squad of seven, but they were not police, they were gangsters."

From BBC

However, he denied that he gave his police chiefs permission to kill suspects, adding that his "death squad" was made of "gangsters... not policemen".

From BBC

The human rights charges that sent Fujimori to prison were connected to a de facto death squad that prosecutors claimed he had authorized.

From Los Angeles Times

He was convicted in a number of cases including corruption, abuse of power and being behind two death squad massacres in the early 1990s.

From BBC