A troop is an organized group of people working together toward a common purpose. You might join a scout troop that goes camping and learns outdoor skills together, or watch a troop of dancers perform at a recital. The word emphasizes that the group has structure and shared goals.

In military contexts, troops means soldiers. When news reports mention “deploying troops,” they're talking about sending military forces somewhere. A cavalry troop is a specific unit of soldiers, traditionally on horseback. The word carries a sense of discipline and organization: troops follow orders and work as a coordinated unit.

The word can also be a verb meaning to walk together as a group. After recess ends, students might troop back into the classroom together. When your family troops downstairs for breakfast, everyone's moving in the same direction at once. There's something purposeful about trooping somewhere, as if the group has a shared destination in mind.