police officer

[ puh-lees aw-fuh-ser, of-uh- ]

noun

1. any policeman or policewoman; patrolman or patrolwoman.
2. a person having officer rank on a police force.

police officer

noun

1. a member of a police force, esp a constable; policeman Often (esp as form of address) shortened toofficer

Word History and Origins

Origin of police officer¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Federal authorities have said 140 police officers were assaulted and millions of dollars in damage incurred.

From Los Angeles Times

Bates pleaded guilty to a charge of misdemeanor grand theft and resisting a police officer, according to court records.

From Los Angeles Times

His body was then dissolved in acid, but Belgian police officer Gerard Soete, who oversaw the destruction, took the tooth as a macabre memento.

From BBC

The last Trump administration sought to withhold money from Los Angeles over its long-standing policy of not allowing police officers to take part in immigration enforcement.

From Los Angeles Times

Four of those detained on Tuesday are soldiers and one is a police officer, local media reported.

From BBC

Related Words

• constable
• deputy
• detective
• marshal
• military police
• officer
• policeman
• trooper