‘整伍’ literally combines ‘整’ (zhěng), meaning ‘to tidy up, reorganize, or rectify’, and ‘伍’ (wǔ), an ancient term for a military unit of five soldiers—later extended to refer more generally to a small group or formation. Together, ‘整伍’ means to restore order, reassemble, or reorganize a unit—especially in contexts involving discipline, alignment, or preparation for action. It carries a formal, slightly archaic or institutional tone, often used in military, school, or ceremonial settings where group cohesion and readiness matter.

While historically rooted in military organization, modern usage extends to classrooms, sports teams, volunteer groups, or even office meetings when people need to regroup, align themselves physically or procedurally, or correct disarray. It implies not just physical arrangement but also restoring focus, unity, and proper structure. The verb is transitive and typically followed by the noun it modifies (e.g., 整伍队伍), though the object may be omitted if context is clear.