posse

noun

pos·​se ˈpä-sē 

1

: a large group often with a common interest

2

: a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usually in an emergency

3

: a group of people temporarily organized to make a search (as for a lost child)

4

: entourage sense 1

Did you know?

Posse started out in English as part of a term from common law, posse comitatus, which in Medieval Latin translates as “power or authority of the county.” Posse comitatus referred to a group of citizens summoned by a reeve (a medieval official) or sheriff to preserve the public peace as allowed for by law. “Preserving the public peace” so often meant hunting down a supposed criminal that posse eventually came to refer to any group organized to make a search or embark on a mission, and today one may read about posses organized for search and rescue efforts. In even broader use it can refer to any group, period. Sometimes nowadays that group is a gang or a rock band but it can as easily be any group—of politicians, models, architects, tourists, children, or what have you—acting together for some shared purpose.

Synonyms of posse

• entourage

Examples of posse in a Sentence

The sheriff and his posse rode out to look for the bandits.

I went to the game with my posse.

Recent Examples on the Web

Also part of Jenner's posse are sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid, who have also rocked the runway, partied and traveled with the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star. —Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 14 May 2026

At the time of the founding, the last of these involved both law enforcement (an Old West sheriff’s posse is a parallel) and military functions (such as the Revolution’s Minutemen). —Michael Szalma, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026

The plane lands, surrounded by throngs of people, and out steps Hitler, followed by his posse, including Joseph Goebbels. —Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026

There are 50 pieces of James and his posse. —John Lauritsen, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin posse comitatus, literally, power or authority of the county

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for posse

• aussie
• basi
• bossy
• fossae
• glossy
• khasi
• lossy
• masi
• mossy
• quasi
• saucy
• bagasse

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Kids Definition

posse

noun

pos·​se ˈpäs-ē 

1

: a group of people called upon by a sheriff for help (as in pursuit of a criminal)

2

: a number of people organized to make a search (as for a lost child)