patrol

noun pa·trol \ pə-ˈtrōl \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Definition of patrol

1 a : the action of traversing a district or beat or of going the rounds along a chain of guards for observation or the maintenance of security

b : the person performing such an action

c : a unit of persons or vehicles employed for reconnaissance, security, or combat

2 : a subdivision of a Boy Scout troop or Girl Scout troop

See patrol defined for English-language learners

See patrol defined for kids

Examples of patrol in a Sentence

The guard makes a patrol of the building every hour.
Soldiers are on patrol along the border.
Army patrols combed the area.

Recent Examples of patrol from the Web

The minimum number for patrol cars on duty has been bumped up from 21 to 25.

— maya moore, Courant Community, "South End Residents In Hartford Say Police Not Doing Enough To Stop Prostitution And Drug Dealing," 17 June 2018
Three officers picked him up by his feet and arms, carried him into the elevator and then into a patrol car, the video shows.

— uriel j. garcia, azcentral, "Charges dropped against Robert Johnson, man brutally beaten by Mesa police," 14 June 2018
Police said the officer was working in a construction zone when he or she was struck by a vehicle while in a marked patrol car.

— charlotteobserver, "Off duty officer struck by vehicle in west Charlotte," 14 June 2018
One of the Munoz men took a radio from a patrol car and threw it out the window, sparking angry threats from the police, the family said.

— maria verza, The Christian Science Monitor, "Forensic experts search for Mexico's missing," 4 June 2018
Clark tried hitting a patrol car, then ran from the Toyota.

— everton bailey jr., OregonLive.com, "Car thief on LSD thought he was playing ‘Grand Theft Auto’ as he led cops on chase, police say," 4 June 2018
Multiple times, the driver stopped and officers started to get out of their patrol cars.

— alene tchekmedyian, latimes.com, "Police try multiple PIT maneuvers during bizarre, slow-speed chase in San Fernando Valley," 1 June 2018
Officer Jeffrey Page, an on-duty police officer, was driving his patrol car, when the man ran from the center median and into the path of the car, police said.

— lavendrick smith, charlotteobserver, "80-year-old man seriously injured he ran in front of cop car, CMPD says," 1 June 2018
The video picks up with Dunkelberger standing unrestrained between the open front driver's side door of the patrol car and the steering wheel and with the officers ordering him to the ground.

— charles rabin, miamiherald, "Police union defends baton beating caught on video as within 'use of force matrix'," 1 June 2018

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

First Known Use of patrol

1664

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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patrol

verb

Definition of patrol

patrolled; patrolling

intransitive verb

: to carry out a patrol

transitive verb

: to carry out a patrol of

—

patroller

noun

See patrol defined for English-language learners

Examples of patrol in a Sentence

The squad had orders to patrol the area.
The border is patrolled by the army.

Recent Examples of patrol from the Web

But the NGOs say their work has been compromised for some time now, as Southern Europe has grown increasingly resistant to migrants and Libya has taken on a more active role in patrolling the sea.

— chico harlan, Washington Post, "The retreat of rescue ships from the Mediterranean is a sign of changing odds for migrants," 16 June 2018
Owners go through rigorous background checks, and security guards patrol the area by sea and by land 24 hours a day, the spokeswoman said.

— katherine clarke, WSJ, "Coral Gables Waterfront Estate Asks Record $55 Million," 15 June 2018
The agent had been patrolling the remote area alone.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Border patrol agent shot in Arizona was attacked by several assailants, officials say," 13 June 2018
Indian border guards said Pakistani soldiers first targeted a soldier around midnight by a sniper fire as the Indian soldiers patrolled a border area in the Jammu region.

— Fox News, "India says Pakistan firing kills 4 soldiers in Kashmir," 12 June 2018
Of the 133 people arrested by Independence police following vehicle pursuits last year, 41 were arrested after the chase had been terminated — often tracked down by police dogs or officers patrolling the area.

— joe robertson, katie bernard, glenn e. rice and ian cummings, kansascity, "'Somebody's going to die,' crash witness knew; Independence defends police chases," 4 June 2018
The game never exactly demanded cookie-cutter sameness, but centers and big forwards patrolled the basket area and the wings and guards dominated the perimeter.

— bob ford, Philly.com, "Sixers need to find positionless players to position themselves for future | Bob Ford," 21 May 2018
The Jets were pressuring in the offensive zone with Brandon Tanev patrolling behind the cage.

— tim hackett, SI.com, "Stanley Cup Playoffs: Vegas Takes Game 4, One Win Away From Stanley Cup Final," 18 May 2018
Houston Police Department officers joined Houston ISD Police officers in patrolling the meeting.

— shelby webb, Houston Chronicle, "Houston ISD officials explain board room changes before raucous meeting," 26 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of patrol

French patrouiller, from Middle French, to tramp around in the mud, from patte paw — more at patten

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1648

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

PATROL Defined for English Language Learners

patrol

noun

Definition of patrol for English Language Learners

: the act of walking or going around or through an area, building, etc., in order to make sure that it is safe : the act of patrolling an area
: a group of people, vehicles, etc., that go through an area to make sure that it is safe : a group that patrols an area