# SAS

/ˈsæs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sas
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. British special forces

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

Stands for Special Air Service. This is the elite special forces unit of the British Army, known for secret and difficult missions.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Special Air Service. Refers to the elite special forces unit of the British Army, often used as a prototype for similar units globally.

- He spent five years serving in the SAS before becoming a security consultant.
- The SAS is renowned for its rigorous selection process and its role in high-stakes counter-terrorism operations worldwide.

Usage: Usually preceded by the definite article 'the'.

### 3. computer storage technology

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

Stands for Serial Attached SCSI. It is a way to connect hard drives and other storage to a computer.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Serial Attached SCSI. A point-to-point serial protocol that moves data to and from computer storage devices such as hard drives.

- The server uses SAS drives because they are faster and more reliable for business data.
- Upgrading the data centre to SAS technology significantly improved the throughput for our database applications.

Usage: Often used as an attributive noun, as in 'SAS drive' or 'SAS controller'.

### 4. basketball team

noun · CEFR C1 · American English

Stands for San Antonio Spurs. This is a professional basketball team in the American NBA.

For teachers: Abbreviation for San Antonio Spurs. A professional American basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas.

- Fans were excited to see SAS win another game at home.
- The SAS roster underwent significant changes during the off-season to build around their new draft picks.

## Examples

- He served in the SAS for ten years.
- The government deployed the SAS to handle the hostage situation at the embassy because of their specialized training.
- Selection for the SAS is notoriously rigorous, with only a small percentage of candidates successfully completing the endurance phases in the Welsh mountains to earn their place in the regiment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.