1
a
: the action of traversing a district or beat or of going the rounds along a chain of guards for observation or the maintenance of security
b
: the person performing such an action
c
: a unit of persons or vehicles employed for reconnaissance, security, or combat
2
: a subdivision of a Boy Scout troop or Girl Scout troop
patrolled; patrolling
: to carry out a patrol
: to carry out a patrol of
patroller
noun
Examples of patrol in a Sentence
Noun
The guard makes a patrol of the building every hour.
Soldiers are on patrol along the border.
Army patrols combed the area.
Verb
The squad had orders to patrol the area.
The border is patrolled by the army.
Recent Examples on the Web
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
With a squad of rebels fanned out to watch for army patrols or helicopters, the unit commander and I and a few others talked for four hours.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Maui fire and ocean safety officials were patrolling the waters using rescue watercraft and a drone.
—CBS News, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for patrol 
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Noun
Mexican authorities stated that a National Guard patrol came under fire after encountering two suspicious trucks.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
With a squad of rebels fanned out to watch for army patrols or helicopters, the unit commander and I and a few others talked for four hours.
—Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Nearly 100 officers were patrolling Downtown at the time of the shooting.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Maui fire and ocean safety officials were patrolling the waters using rescue watercraft and a drone.
—CBS News, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for patrol
Dictionary Entries Near patrol
Cite this Entry
“Patrol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrol. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
patrol
1 of 2 noun
pa·trol
pə-ˈtrōl 
1
a
: the action of going the rounds of an area for observation or guard
b
: the person or group doing the patrolling
2
: a part of a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop
patrol
2 of 2 verb
patrolled; patrolling
: to carry out a patrol or a patrol of
patroller
noun
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