police state

noun

: a political unit characterized by repressive governmental control of political, economic, and social life usually by an arbitrary exercise of power by police and especially secret police in place of regular operation of administrative and judicial organs of the government according to publicly known legal procedures

Examples of police state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To an American like me, Australia feels more like a police state. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 19 June 2024

While in prison, he was tortured, of course — this is routine in police states — and he was also made to work. —Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 13 June 2024

Nor does the police state want citizens prepared to exercise those rights. —Nisha Whitehead, Orange County Register, 22 May 2024

These lessons in compliance, while expected, are what comes of challenging the police state. —Nisha Whitehead, Orange County Register, 22 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

police state

noun

: a state in which the activities of the people are under the power of the government often acting through a secret police force