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
In much the same way that Americans have opted into government surveillance through the convenience of GPS devices and cell phones, digital cash—the means of paying with one’s debit card, credit card or cell phone—is becoming the de facto commerce of the American police state.
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Nisha Whitehead, Orange County Register, 24 Sep. 2024
According to surveillance footage, Briggs allegedly removed the front window panel to enter the business and attempted, unsuccessfully, to access the safe before fleeing, police state in court documents.
—Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 19 Sep. 2024
Correspondent Ramy Inocencio talks with observers who describe Hong Kong today as a police state; and with American diplomat Gregory May, who discusses the effect the new laws have had on free expression.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 25 July 2024
Now, Russia is a brutally repressive police state run by a small group of hard-liners who have imposed ever-harsher policies both at home and abroad.
—Daniel Treisman, Foreign Affairs, 6 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for police state 
Nisha Whitehead, Orange County Register, 24 Sep. 2024
According to surveillance footage, Briggs allegedly removed the front window panel to enter the business and attempted, unsuccessfully, to access the safe before fleeing, police state in court documents.
—Miguel Torres, The Arizona Republic, 19 Sep. 2024
Correspondent Ramy Inocencio talks with observers who describe Hong Kong today as a police state; and with American diplomat Gregory May, who discusses the effect the new laws have had on free expression.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 25 July 2024
Now, Russia is a brutally repressive police state run by a small group of hard-liners who have imposed ever-harsher policies both at home and abroad.
—Daniel Treisman, Foreign Affairs, 6 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for police state
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'police state.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Police state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/police%20state. Accessed 2 Nov. 2024.
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