A dragnet is a method used by police to catch suspected criminals. A large number of police officers search a specific area, in the hope that they will eventually find the person they are looking for.
...a massive police dragnet for two suspected terrorists.
dragnet in British English
(ˈdræɡˌnɛt)
noun
1.
a heavy or weighted net used to scour the bottom of a pond, river, etc, as when searching for something
2.
any system of coordinated efforts by police forces to track down wanted persons
dragnet in American English
(ˈdrægˌnɛt)
noun
1.
a net dragged along the bottom of a river, lake, etc. for catching fish
2.
a net for catching small game
3. US
an organized system or network for gathering in or catching criminals or others wanted by the authorities
Examples of 'dragnet' in a sentence
dragnet
Chief Reynolds sent his men with them to start the dragnet for Hubert.
Arden, William THE MYSTERY OF THE PURPLE PIRATE (2002)
Sometimes he knew that the dragnet needed to be wider-ranging than he could manage.
Hilton, John Buxton THE INNOCENTS AT HOME (A SUPERINTENDENT KENWORTHY NOVEL) (2002)
I wait until the dragnet widens out, as it will inevitably do, when they find that she is missing.