troop
n. countablen. a group of soldiers or a group of people who work together, like scouts. You often use this word when talking about organized military units.
n. a group of soldiers, especially a cavalry or armoured unit; also used to describe a local unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts. Often appears in the plural to refer to soldiers in general.
The troop moved quietly through the forest at night.
The local scout troop organized a weekend camping trip to teach the children survival skills.
A small troop of cavalry was dispatched to scout the perimeter, while the main force remained entrenched behind the primary defensive line.
Attested in English since 1545, from French troupe, from Back-formation from troupeau, from Middle French trope, troupe, from Old French trope, trupe, of unknown origin. Compare Early Medieval Latin troppus. Doublet of troupe, and possibly also of thorp, dorp, and trip. Cognate with German Dorf (“village”).
When used in the plural ('troops'), it refers to soldiers collectively rather than a specific number of units.
Ten troops were killed.Ten soldiers were killed.In military contexts, 'troops' refers to a large, indefinite group of soldiers; it is not used as a countable noun for individual people.