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police force
noun
: a body of trained officers entrusted by a government with maintenance of public peace and order, enforcement of laws, and prevention and detection of crime
Synonyms
Examples of police force in a Sentence
He joined the local police force.
mobilized practically the entire police force to track down the escaped criminal
Recent Examples on the Web
More than four months on, however, Deadline understands the police force has made little progress.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 11 Dec. 2024
The fatal crash happened after the police force in McColl – a town of about 2,000 residents near the state’s border with North Carolina -- walked off the job last week.
—Greg Norman, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2024
But even at its largest, the school police force was never big enough for around-the-clock patrols at some 1,000 campuses in the sprawling district.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2024
The Department of Justice has reached a reform deal with the Louisville Police Department following a probe into the city's police force prompted by the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor, officials announced this week.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1820, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near police force
Cite this Entry
“Police force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/police%20force. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
police force
noun
: a body of officers trained and entrusted by a government to keep public peace, enforce laws, and prevent and detect crime
Legal Definition
police force
noun
: a body of trained officers entrusted by a government with maintenance of public peace and order, enforcement of laws, and prevention and detection of crime
More from Merriam-Webster on police force
Britannica English: Translation of police force for Arabic Speakers
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