constable

noun con·sta·ble \ ˈkän(t)-stə-bəl , ˈkən(t)- \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: constable in a Sentence

Definition of constable

1 : a high officer of a royal court or noble household especially in the Middle Ages

2 : the warden or governor of a royal castle or a fortified town

3 a : a public officer usually of a town or township responsible for keeping the peace and for minor judicial duties

b chiefly British : police officer; especially : one ranking below sergeant

See constable defined for English-language learners

See constable defined for kids

Examples of constable in a Sentence

reported the crime to the local constable

Recent Examples of constable from the Web

In hopes of collecting on Notre Dame’s judgment, Sapire said a Bexar County constable went to the Basse Road and the Bank of America Plaza addresses in February.

— patrick danner, San Antonio Express-News, "Troubled tech startup Vysk seems to have gone stealth," 23 June 2018
But after only a few weeks as a constable and a year’s training, the former Bank of England official was put in charge of 100-odd cops.

— The Economist, "How the career of the British bobby is changing," 24 May 2018
In 1931, an 8-year-old Australian Aboriginal girl named Daisy Kadibil was snatched up by a local constable and taken from her family in the Pilbara region of western Australia to an assimilation camp some 800 miles away.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Daisy Kadibil’s Story of Escape Called Attention to the “Stolen Generations” of Aboriginal Australians," 29 June 2018
University police referred the case to the constable’s office, which filed a class C misdemeanor charge against Burke.

— caleb parke, Fox News, "Texas elected official gets misdemeanor, accused of berating a teen girl wearing Trump t-shirt," 5 Apr. 2018
During the workweek, Kempker spends his time as a Bexar County constable, but his weekends are all about family, ribs, brisket, chicken and smoke.

— chuck blount, San Antonio Express-News, "2 San Antonio barbecue-pro dads pass their love of the pits onto their sons," 6 June 2018
An investigation was immediately initiated by administrators in conjunction with Harris County Precinct 3 constables.

— Houston Chronicle, "Richter student disciplined for BB gun on campus," 28 Mar. 2018
Brogden told the school board that the cost could come down if the district is able to partner with police in Mansfield, Grand Prairie and Arlington plus the Tarrant County sheriffs and constables.

— nicholas sakelaris, star-telegram, "This Fort Worth-area school district might spend $2.3 million to put armed officers at every campus," 7 June 2018
No one has been charged as an investigation is ongoing, according to a constable's office spokesman.

— jose r. gonzalez, Houston Chronicle, "Boy hospitalized after running out in front of vehicle in NW Houston," 27 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'constable.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of constable

Middle English conestable, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin comes stabuli, literally, officer of the stable

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Constable

biographical name Con·sta·ble \ ˈkən(t)-stə-bəl , ˈkän(t)- \

Definition of Constable

John 1776–1837 English painter

CONSTABLE Defined for English Language Learners

constable

noun

Definition of constable for English Language Learners

: a public official whose job is similar to that of a police officer but who is elected or appointed rather than hired

CONSTABLE Defined for Kids

constable

noun con·sta·ble \ ˈkän-stə-bəl , ˈkən- \

Definition of constable for Students

: a police officer usually of a village or small town

Law Dictionary

constable

noun con·sta·ble \ ˈkän-stə-bəl, ˈkən- \

legal Definition of constable

: a public officer usually of a town or township responsible for keeping the peace and for minor judicial duties

Origin and Etymology of constable

Old French conestable military commander, chief of the royal household, from Late Latin comes stabuli, literally, officer of the stable

Learn More about constable

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for constable Spanish Central: Translation of constable Nglish: Translation of constable for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of constable for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about constable

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up constable? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

constable

Definition of constable

Examples of constable in a Sentence

Recent Examples of constable from the Web

Origin and Etymology of constable

Constable

Definition of Constable

Phrases Related to CONSTABLE

Related Phrases

CONSTABLE Defined for English Language Learners

constable

Definition of constable for English Language Learners

CONSTABLE Defined for Kids

constable

Definition of constable for Students

Law Dictionary

constable

legal Definition of constable

Origin and Etymology of constable

Learn More about constable

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

A Deep Dive on 'Deep Dive'

10 Words for the Elitists in Your Life

Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Trending: Brennan: Trump's Claims are 'Hogwash'

Ghost Word