constable

noun

con·​sta·​ble ˈkän(t)-stə-bəl  ˈkən(t)- 

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

Synonyms

• bobby [British]
• bull [slang]
• cop
• copper
• flatfoot [slang]
• fuzz
• gendarme
• lawman
• officer
• police officer
• policeman
• shamus [slang]

Example Sentences

reported the crime to the local constable

Recent Examples on the Web

His time as a constable for the past decade is equally as red-marked. —Joseph Darius Jaafari, The Arizona Republic, 14 Dec. 2022

The other first-time victors were Henry Curry, a new constable, and Adam Swartz, a justice of the peace. —Dallas News, 1 Jan. 2023

The chief constable of Greater Manchester has done a great job on that. —Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 30 Oct. 2022

In August, 24-year-old Gavin Lee Stansell shot and killed three people, including a Pima County constable, and then himself. —Ellie Willard, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2022

The unnamed deputy constable, who has over three decades of experience and no history of infractions, has been suspended indefinitely without pay while an internal investigation proceeds, Nola.com reported. —María Luisa Paúl, Washington Post, 27 July 2022

Martinez-Garibay became a constable for Justice Precinct 8 earlier this year, Ducey said. —CBS News, 26 Aug. 2022

An Arizona constable was shot to death, along with three others, while serving an eviction notice at an apartment complex Thursday, authorities said. —Tristan Balagtas, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022

Authorities have confirmed the death of an off-duty deputy constable who was fatally shot on his drive home after picking up dinner for his family. —Tristan Balagtas, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing constable

• chief constable
• police constable

• chief constable
• police constable

Kids Definition

constable

noun

con·​sta·​ble ˈkän(t)-stə-bəl  ˈkən(t)- 

1

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

2

: the person in charge of a royal castle or a town

3

: a police officer usually of a village or small town

Legal Definition

constable

noun

con·​sta·​ble ˈkän-stə-bəl, ˈkən- 

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

History and Etymology for constable

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

Biographical Definition

Constable

biographical name

Con·​sta·​ble ˈkən(t)-stə-bəl 

ˈkän(t)-

John 1776–1837 English painter