line of duty
noun phrase
: all that is authorized, required, or normally associated with some field of responsibility
Examples of line of duty in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There have been 314 officers shot in line of duty nationwide so far this year, according to the National Fraternal Order of Police.
—
Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025
From detectives leaving the line of duty to family members meeting their untimely demise, the CBS series said goodbye to several fan-favorite characters throughout its 14-year run.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Dec. 2025
An election for Wyandotte County sheriff this November comes on the heels of a year fraught with hardships for the department, including a deputy’s line of duty death and a jail worker charged with murder after an inmate died at the county detention center.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
Out of respect for two people who'd lost their lives in their line of duty, doing their jobs documenting the truth as journalists, U.S. soldiers lined up in the darkness on either side as David and Zabi were carried off the helicopter.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
In all, 65 officers have fallen in the line of duty this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page — including 37 killed by hostile gunfire or physical or vehicular assault.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
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Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2025
From detectives leaving the line of duty to family members meeting their untimely demise, the CBS series said goodbye to several fan-favorite characters throughout its 14-year run.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Dec. 2025
An election for Wyandotte County sheriff this November comes on the heels of a year fraught with hardships for the department, including a deputy’s line of duty death and a jail worker charged with murder after an inmate died at the county detention center.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
Out of respect for two people who'd lost their lives in their line of duty, doing their jobs documenting the truth as journalists, U.S. soldiers lined up in the darkness on either side as David and Zabi were carried off the helicopter.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
In all, 65 officers have fallen in the line of duty this year, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page — including 37 killed by hostile gunfire or physical or vehicular assault.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Line of duty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20of%20duty. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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