firing party: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; Technical (military/legal)
Quick answer
What does “firing party” mean?
A group of soldiers assembled to perform a military execution by shooting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of soldiers assembled to perform a military execution by shooting.
Any group officially tasked with carrying out an execution by firearms; by extension, sometimes used metaphorically for a group performing a terminating action.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage; term is standard in the military lexicon of both varieties.
Connotations
Uniformly carries strong connotations of formal procedure, capital punishment, and military discipline.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse. Almost exclusively found in historical, military, or legal texts.
Grammar
How to Use “firing party” in a Sentence
[Subject: commander/military authority] detailed a firing party [to carry out an execution][Subject: prisoner] faced the firing partyVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, military, or legal studies discussing capital punishment.
Everyday
Virtually never used; would be shocking and highly specific.
Technical
Standard term in military law and historical accounts of military justice.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “firing party”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “firing party”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “firing party”
- Using it to mean a group of people at a shooting range for fun.
- Confusing it with a 'firing line' (which is more general).
- Using it in informal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the terms are largely synonymous in the context of military executions. 'Firing squad' is perhaps slightly more common in general usage, while 'firing party' is the formal military term.
No, absolutely not. That would be a serious and confusing error. In business, 'firing' means dismissing someone from a job, but 'firing party' does not carry that meaning.
Its use is now largely historical, as many countries have abolished the death penalty or its military application. It appears primarily in historical accounts, legal texts, and discussions of past practices.
Historically, it often consisted of multiple soldiers (e.g., 6-12), with some rifles loaded with blanks so that no individual could be certain they fired the lethal shot, a practice meant to ease the burden of conscience.
A group of soldiers assembled to perform a military execution by shooting.
Firing party is usually formal; technical (military/legal) in register.
Firing party: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfaɪə.rɪŋ ˌpɑː.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfaɪr.ɪŋ ˌpɑːr.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a formal 'party' (group) whose job is to 'fire' (shoot). Not a celebration.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A FORMAL PROCEDURE (The mechanism of justice is a rigid, ceremonial act performed by an appointed group).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a 'firing party'?