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 of police force

• police
• constabulary

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 20,000 soldiers and police forces were deployed for elections, while troops carrying long guns patrolled roadsides. — Teresa Cerojano, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

About five thousand recruits for a new police force have been vetted, but training has yet to begin. — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Meanwhile, police forces across the country have transformed from lightly armed constabularies to small-scale armies. — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026

When picked, the department’s new chief will inherit a police force roiled by controversy and lawsuits in recent years. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for police force

• bourse
• coarse
• course
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse
• norse
• source
• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce

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