police

[ puh-lees ]

noun

1. Also called police force. an organized civil force for maintaining order, preventing and detecting crime, and enforcing the laws.
2. (used with a plural verb) members of such a force:

   Several police are patrolling the neighborhood.

3. the regulation and control of a community, especially for the maintenance of public order, safety, health, morals, etc.
4. the department of the government concerned with this, especially with the maintenance of order.
5. any body of people officially maintained or employed to keep order, enforce regulations, etc.
6. people who seek to regulate a specified activity, practice, etc.:

   the language police.

7. Military. (in the U.S. Army)
   1. the cleaning and keeping clean of a camp, post, station, etc.
   2. the condition of a camp, post, station, etc., with reference to cleanliness.

verb (used with object)

, po·liced, po·lic·ing.

1. to regulate, control, or keep in order by or as if by means of police.
2. Military. to clean and keep clean (a camp, post, etc.)

police

/ pəˈliːs /

noun

1. 1. the organized civil force of a state, concerned with maintenance of law and order, the detection and prevention of crime, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      a police inquiry

2. functioning as plural the members of such a force collectively
3. any organized body with a similar function

   security police

4. archaic.
   1. the regulation and control of a community, esp in regard to the enforcement of law, the prevention of crime, etc
   2. the department of government concerned with this

verb

1. to regulate, control, or keep in order by means of a police or similar force
2. to observe or record the activity or enforcement of

   a committee was set up to police the new agreement on picketing

3. to make or keep (a military camp, etc) clean and orderly

Pronunciation Note

Many English words exemplify the original stress rule of Old English and other early Germanic languages, according to which all parts of speech except unprefixed verbs were stressed on the first syllable, and prefixed verbs were stressed on the syllable immediately following the prefix. Although the scope of this rule has been greatly restricted by the incorporation into English of loanwords that exhibit other stress patterns, the rule has always remained operative to some degree, and many loanwords have been conformed to it throughout the history of English. For South Midland and Midland U.S. speakers in particular, shifting the stress in borrowed nouns from a noninitial syllable to the first syllable is still an active process, yielding [poh, -lees] for police and [dee, -troit] for Detroit, as well as cement, cigar, guitar, insurance, umbrella, and idea said as [see, -ment], [see, -gahr], [git, -ahr], [in, -sh, oo, r-, uh, ns], [uhm, -brel-, uh], and [ahy, -dee, uh].

Other Words From

• o·ver·po·lice verb (used with object) overpoliced overpolicing
• pre·po·lice adjective
• un·po·liced adjective
• well-po·liced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of police¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Middle French: “government, civil administration, police,” from Late Latin polītia “citizenship, government,” from Latin polītīa; polity

Word History and Origins

Origin of police¹

C16: via French from Latin polītīa administration, government; see polity

Example Sentences

The president relied on the military, rather than the police, to fight organized crime groups, which are among Mexico’s largest employers.

From Los Angeles Times

He also echoed critics in Mexico who have assailed Sheinbaum for failing to earmark more funds to professionalize Mexico’s criminal justice system — especially the police, who make so little money that officers often wind up on gang payrolls.

From Los Angeles Times

Staff say the area has become dangerous and intimidating, and that despite reporting thefts to police on an almost daily basis, nothing has been done.

From BBC

Police Scotland says a dedicated team is working with businesses in the area and is investigating every report.

From BBC

"The police say they don't have the resources to tackle something like this but it's not just petty crime any more - this is organised theft."

From BBC

Related Words

• force
• law enforcement
• squad
• troops