policing

[ puh-lee-sing ]

noun

1. the act of maintaining public order and security, enforcing the law, or regulating or controlling something, by or as if by members of a police force:

   No matter what style is adopted for the policing of a community, officers must use discretion in interpreting the activities of citizens.

   Careful family use of the internet doesn't need to be a punitive policing of children's activities online.

2. Military. the act of cleaning up a camp or post or of keeping it clean:

   After the major’s visit, the policing of the entire camp and all the fighting positions improved 100 percent.

Other Words From

• self-po·lic·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of policing¹

First recorded in 1830–40; police ( def ) + -ing ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp, the policing minister in the previous government, said the police guidance on dealing with hate speech should be updated to ensure officers were not "policing thought" or "free speech".

From BBC

“If you think that you can stop these irregular flows just with policing and prosecution and securitising, it’s a road to nowhere.”

From BBC

Since it is not a legal term, cities have taken a variety of approaches to becoming "sanctuaries", such as setting policies in laws or simply changing local policing practices.

From BBC

She has set out plans for a new national policing body to offer support on deploying new technologies, and deliver promised improvements in the joint purchasing of policing equipment such as vehicles.

From BBC

His persistent vile, aimed at movements for racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights and accountability in policing worked.

From Salon