Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense polices, present participle policing, past tense, past participle policed
1. singular noun [with singular or plural verb]
The police are the official organization that is responsible for making sure that people obey the law.
The police are also looking for a second car.
Police say they have arrested twenty people following the disturbances.
I noticed a police car shadowing us.
Synonyms: the law [informal], police force, constabulary, the fuzz [slang] More Synonyms of police
2.
See also secret police
3. plural noun
Police are men and women who are members of the official organization that is responsiblefor making sure that people obey the law.
More than one hundred police have ringed the area.
4. verb
If the police or military forces police an area or event, they make sure that law and order is preserved in that area or at that event.
...the tiny U.N. observer force whose job it is to police the border. [VERB noun]
The march was heavily policed. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: control, patrol, guard, watch More Synonyms of police
policinguncountable noun
...the policing of public places.
5. See also community policing
6. verb
If a person or group in authority polices a law or an area of public life, they make sure that what is done is fair and legal.
...Imro, the self-regulatory body that polices the investment management business. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: monitor, check, observe, oversee More Synonyms of police
policinguncountable noun
Policing of business courses varies widely.
police in British English
(pəˈliːs)
noun
1. the police
2. (functioning as plural)
the members of such a force collectively
3.
any organized body with a similar function
security police
4. archaic
a.
the regulation and control of a community, esp in regard to the enforcement of law, the prevention of crime, etc
b.
the department of government concerned with this
verb(transitive)
5.
to regulate, control, or keep in order by means of a police or similar force
6.
to observe or record the activity or enforcement of
a committee was set up to police the new agreement on picketing
7. US
to make or keep (a military camp, etc) clean and orderly
Word origin
C16: via French from Latin polītīa administration, government; see polity
police in American English
(pəˈlis)
noun
1. Archaic
the regulation within a community of morals, safety, sanitation, etc.; public order; law enforcement
2.
the governmental department (of a city, state, etc.) organized for keeping order,enforcing the law, and preventing, detecting, and prosecuting crimes
3.
a.
a governmental force, or body of persons, established and maintained for keeping order, etc.
b.
a private organization like this
security police at a college
c. [with pl. v.]
the members of any such force
d. [with pl. verb]; Informal
those who act as self-appointed guardians of morality, propriety, style, etc.
, usually somewhat disparaging
the fashion police, the language police
4. US, US Army
a.
the work or duty of keeping a camp, post, etc. clean and orderly
b. [with pl. v.]
the soldiers charged with such duty
kitchen police
verb transitiveWord forms: poˈliced or poˈlicing
5.
to control, protect, or keep orderly with or as police or a similar force
to police the streets
6. US
to make or keep (a military camp, post, etc.) clean and orderly
often with up
Word origin
Fr < LL politia, administration of the commonwealth (in L, the state) < Gr politeia, the state, citizenship < politēs, citizen < polis, city < IE *pel-, fortress (> Sans pūr, town), orig., filled wall, special use of base *pel-, to flow, fill > full1
Examples of 'police' in a sentence
police
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
Most police forces have only one or two officers to deal with it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It needs to look at the government policy on policing the mining dispute as a whole.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They were held after a police car collided with a stolen vehicle.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The young people of today have no discipline at all towards the police or older people.
The Sun (2016)
She also told police she may be able to recognise one of the robbers and said she they did not hurt her.
The Sun (2017)
In some areas, lawn police issue fines to homeowners who fail.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Five senior police officials were suspended yesterday, accused of gross negligence.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This time they breezed through one of the police checkpoints, set up across the roads leading to the parade route.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Before that case police officers were responsible for their actions to the courts under criminal law.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The police have been forced to step up their presence and locals have launched their own patrols.
The Sun (2013)
Stop and search is a point of contention between the government and the police.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Vehicle tracking systems are increasingly being used to help police recover stolen cars.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Officials said police fanned out across the town to protect shops and public buildings from attack.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The programme also featured reconstructions of sightings of people whom police are trying to identify.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Where are the police officers one used to see pounding the beat?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The police also need to take illegal lending more seriously.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It all got a bit ugly and the police were called.
The Sun (2012)
This is no time to turn the lights down on police activity.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She would leave the drug war to the police and the military.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Security police ensured that no opposition could make itself felt for long.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
It will be so busy that the police will be forced to close the road.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The wailing of police cars about their unspeakable business.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The police in one area do not necessarily make a connection between one murder and another committed elsewhere.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Senior police sources say that some specialist officers are being transferred from contemporary abuse investigations to historical ones.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The evidence is clear about what happens when the number of visible police in an area goes up.
The Sun (2012)
Anonymous members said last night that the arrests could lead to reprisal attacks against government and police websites.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We see these trials as also being beneficial in reducing police use of force and public complaints against police.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
There are partnerships with the police department and the district attorney's office.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The police are indeed responsible for operations and the Government for governing through the political process.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
In other languages
police
British English: police /pəˈliːs/ NOUN
The police are the official organization that is responsible for making sure that people obey the law.
The police are also looking for a second car.
American English: police
Arabic: شُرْطَة
Brazilian Portuguese: polícia
Chinese: 警察
Croatian: policija
Czech: policie
Danish: politi
Dutch: politie
European Spanish: policía cuerpo
Finnish: poliisivoimat
French: police
German: Polizei
Greek: αστυνομία
Italian: polizia
Japanese: 警察
Korean: 경찰
Norwegian: politi
Polish: policja
European Portuguese: polícia
Romanian: poliție
Russian: полиция
Latin American Spanish: policía
Swedish: polis
Thai: ตำรวจ
Turkish: polis
Ukrainian: поліція
Vietnamese: cảnh sát
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'police'
air police
members of an air force assigned to carry on police duties
police car
a vehicle used by police officers , used esp to patrol the streets or respond to incidents
police cell
a small, secure room in a police station where criminals are detained temporarily
police dog
A police dog is a working dog which is owned by the police.
Police Motu
a pidginized version of the Motu language, used as a lingua franca in Papua , originally chiefly by the police
police work
the everyday duties of police officers, esp the investigation of criminal activities
riot police
The riot police is the section of the police force that is trained to deal with people who cause trouble in public places.
the police
the organized civil force of a state, concerned with maintenance of law and order, the detection and prevention of crime, etc
border police
the force in charge of policing a border
campus police
police officers, security guards or students employed by a college or university to patrol the campus and to protect students, staff , and visitors
county police
(in the US) the police of a particular county
police action
military activity without a declaration of war, undertaken to correct a breach of international law within or by a country
police budget
Your budget is the amount of money that you have available to spend . The budget for something is the amount of money that a person, organization, or country has available to spend on it.
police chief
a police officer with the highest rank or authority in a city, town, etc
police court
(in Scotland, formerly) a burgh court with limited jurisdiction , presided over by lay magistrates or a stipendiary magistrate: replaced in 1975 by the district court
police escort
a police officer or vehicle which accompanies a prisoner
police force
A police force is the police organization in a particular country or area.
police office
a geographical administrative division within an area patrolled by a police force
police record
an official file , held by the police , containing details of any criminal offences committed by an individual
police state
A police state is a country in which the government controls people's freedom by means of the police, especially secret police.
police wagon
a police van for transporting prisoners
secret police
The secret police is a police force in some countries that works secretly and deals with political crimes committed against the government.
State police
the police of a particular state
airport police
a police unit dedicated to providing security at airports
kitchen police
soldiers who have been detailed to work in the kitchen , esp as a punishment
military police
The military police are the part of an army, navy , or air force that act as its police force.
mounted police
police who patrol on horseback
plastic police
a collective term for several classes of public officer (including community support officers) authorized to perform certain tasks and duties in support of the police force, but having lesser powers than the police
police academy
a school for training police officers
police custody
If somebody or something is in police custody , they are kept somewhere secure , under the supervision of police officers , for example in a police station .
police inquiry
An inquiry is an official investigation .
police marksman
a police officer skilled in precision shooting, esp with a sniper rifle
police officer
A police officer is a member of the police force.
police presence
the presence of police officers, esp in public places
police service
→ the police service
police station
A police station is the local office of a police force in a particular area.
precinct police
the police responsible for a district of a city
railway police
the branch of the police force specializing in maintaining law and order and detecting crime on the railways
security police
police who are responsible for security
thought police
a group of people with totalitarian views on a given subject, who constantly monitor others for any deviation from prescribed thinking
traffic police
a unit of a police force, whose job is to control traffic and enforce traffic regulations
auxiliary police
a part-time reserve attached to a regular police force
police constable
A police constable is a police officer of the lowest rank.
police department
the department of local government concerned with enforcing law and preventing crime
police helicopter
a helicopter used in police operations , for example in traffic control, or for observation
police inspector
a high-ranking police officer
police operation
An operation is a highly organized activity that involves many people doing different things.
police procedural
a novel , film, or television drama that deals realistically with police work
police protection
protection from danger , crime etc given by the police force to a community , city etc
provincial police
(in Canada) the police force of a province, esp Ontario or Quebec
Chinese translation of 'police'
police
(pəˈliːs)
n pl
(= organization) 警方 (jǐngfāng)
(= members) 警察 (jǐngchá)
vt
[street, area, event]维(維)持治安 (wéichí zhì'ān)
All related terms of 'police'
police car
警车(車) jǐngchē [ 辆(輛) liàng ]
police force
警力 jǐnglì
police officer
警察 jǐngchá [ 名 míng ]
police station
警察局 jǐngchájú [ 个(個) gè ]
a brush with the police
与(與)警察的小摩擦 yǔ jǐngchá de xiǎo mócā
he is wanted by the police
他被警方通缉(緝) tā bèi jǐngfāng tōngjī
the police pulled him over
警察叫他停车(車) jǐngchá jiào tā tíngchē
to be offered police protection
被提供了警方保护(護)的 bèi tígōngle jǐngfāng bǎohù de
the police will get him eventually
警察最终(終)会(會)抓住他的 jǐngchá zuìzhōng huì zhuāzhù tā de
MP
( Brit ) Member of Parliament 下院议(議)员(員) Xiàyuàn Yìyuán
officer
( Mil ) 军(軍)官 jūnguān [ 位 wèi ]
pc
per cent 百分之 bǎi fēn zhī
she called the police the instant he left
他一走，她就叫警察了 tā yī zǒu, tā jiù jiào jǐngchá le
commissioner
( in organization, government ) 长(長)官 zhǎngguān
WPC
woman police constable 女警官 nǚ jǐngguān
(noun)
Definition
the men and women who are members of such a force
The police have arrested twenty people following the disturbances.
Synonyms
the law (informal)
police force
constabulary
the fuzz (slang)
The fuzz want to question you.
law enforcement agency
boys in blue (informal, archaic)
the Old Bill (slang)
the rozzers (slang)
1 (verb)
Definition
to maintain order or control by means of a police force or similar body
the UN force whose job it is to police the border
Synonyms
control
patrol
Prison officers continued to patrol the grounds.
guard
Sentries guarded the entrance to the building.
watch
Owners can't watch their pets 24 hours a day.
protect
He vowed to protect them.
regulate
He breathed deeply, trying to regulate the pound of his heartbeat.
keep the peace
keep in order
2 (verb)
the body which polices the investment management business
Synonyms
monitor
Officials had not been allowed to monitor the voting.
check
Check the accuracy of every detail in your CV.
Get a mechanic to check the car out for you before you buy it.
observe
He studies and observes the behaviour of babies.
oversee
Get a surveyor to oversee and inspect the various stages of the work.
supervise
He supervised and trained more than 400 volunteers.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of check
Definition
to examine, investigate, or make an inquiry into
Check the accuracy of every detail in your CV.Get a mechanic to check the car out for you before you buy it.
Synonyms
examine,
test,
study,
look at,
research,
note,
confirm,
investigate,
monitor,
probe,
tick,
vet,
inspect,
look over,
verify,
work over,
scrutinize,
make sure of,
inquire into,
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned),
parse
in the sense of guard
Definition
to take precautions
Sentries guarded the entrance to the building.
Synonyms
protect,
watch,
defend,
secure,
police,
mind,
cover,
screen,
preserve,
shelter,
shield,
patrol,
oversee,
safeguard,
watch over
in the sense of observe
Definition
to watch (something) carefully
He studies and observes the behaviour of babies.
Synonyms
watch,
study,
view,
look at,
note,
check,
regard,
survey,
monitor,
contemplate,
check out (informal),
look on,
keep an eye on (informal),
gaze at,
pay attention to,
keep track of,
scrutinize,
keep tabs on (informal),
recce (slang),
keep under observation,
watch like a hawk,
take a dekko at (British, slang, old-fashioned)
Synonyms of 'police'
police
Explore 'police' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of oversee
Definition
to watch over and direct (someone or something)
Get a surveyor to oversee and inspect the various stages of the work.
Synonyms
supervise,
run,
control,
manage,
direct,
handle,
conduct,
look after,
be responsible for,
administer,
inspect,
preside over,
keep an eye on,
be on duty at,
superintend,
have or be in charge of
in the sense of patrol
Definition
to engage in a patrol of (a place)
Prison officers continued to patrol the grounds.
Synonyms
police,
guard,
keep watch (on),
pound,
range (over),
cruise,
inspect,
safeguard,
make the rounds (of),
keep guard (on),
walk or pound the beat (of)
in the sense of protect
Definition
to defend from trouble, harm, or loss
He vowed to protect them.
Synonyms
keep someone safe,
defend,
keep,
support,
save,
guard,
secure,
preserve,
look after,
foster,
shelter,
shield,
care for,
harbour,
safeguard,
watch over,
stick up for (informal),
cover up for,
chaperon,
give someone sanctuary,
take someone under your wing,
mount or stand guard over
in the sense of regulate
Definition
to adjust slightly
He breathed deeply, trying to regulate the pound of his heartbeat.
Synonyms
moderate,
control,
modulate,
settle,
fit,
balance,
tune,
adjust
in the sense of supervise
Definition
to watch over (people) so as to ensure appropriate behaviour
He supervised and trained more than 400 volunteers.