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
Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Since 2006, zero elephant poaching incidents have been recorded, a testament to the effectiveness of the project’s ranger patrols and conservation strategies.
—Suwanna Gauntlett, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
O'Neill noted that if the boat with the 21 migrants had made its way into the harbor and was stopped by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, which patrols the area, local law enforcement would have been powerless to do anything.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for patrol 
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Noun
So far, the two countries have held at least two rounds of joint naval patrols in the Pacific this year.
—Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Since 2006, zero elephant poaching incidents have been recorded, a testament to the effectiveness of the project’s ranger patrols and conservation strategies.
—Suwanna Gauntlett, Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
Today, Chinese Coast Guard vessels patrolled Scarborough Shoal today, marking at least the fourth incursion by the People’s Republic of China into the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone since the Philippines announced two new laws.
—Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2024
O'Neill noted that if the boat with the 21 migrants had made its way into the harbor and was stopped by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, which patrols the area, local law enforcement would have been powerless to do anything.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 27 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 17 Dec. 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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