What Does ‘Squad Goals’ Mean?

The phrase “squad goals” has been popping up a lot in the last couple of weeks.

It first came to my attention when Ashley Dodge sent me an article from Buzzfeed because she thought I’d be interested in the new word. It was titled 29 Times The Once Upon a Time Cast Redefined Squad Goals.

Then I saw Lena Dunham write facetiously on Instagram, “I don’t know what people mean when they say Squad Goals. Is this it!?” She’s referring to a group photo of some of the funniest women in comedy from a Hollywood Reporter article in which they’re all wearing jewel-toned dresses like you might see at a sorority formal or on bridesmaids at a wedding.

So what does the phrase “squad goals” mean? In short, it’s a hashtag that describes aspirations or dreams for a group. It often appears alongside photos of close friends who are having fun together, or people who admire their relationship with each other.

In other words, the phrase can express a desire to have friendships like those that people admire, or they can simply mean the group’s goals. It’s often used when talking about people who have a close friendship, but it can also be used to describe what makes a great squad.

“A squad goal can be about anything, like planning a vacation or simply how to support each other,” Dodge said. “It can be a goal to strive for or a way to express what you think is ideal.”