patrolman

noun

pa·​trol·​man pə-ˈtrōl-mən How to pronounce patrolman (audio)
Synonyms of patrolmannext
: one who patrols
especially : a police officer assigned to a beat

Examples of patrolman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hendry at one time patrolled the streets as a patrolman. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026 As if highway patrolmen weren’t scary enough. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026 The patrolman has not been identified. — Drew Pittock, USA Today, 3 June 2026 One was the patrolman who'd joined the sergeant while responding to Johnson's earlier call. — Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patrolman

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patrolman was in 1867

Rhymes for patrolman

See All Rhymes for patrolman

Browse Nearby Words

patroller
patrolman
patrologic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Patrolman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrolman. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

patrolman

noun
pa·​trol·​man pə-ˈtrōl-mən How to pronounce patrolman (audio)
: a police officer who has a regular beat

More from Merriam-Webster on patrolman

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for patrolman

Nglish: Translation of patrolman for Spanish Speakers

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