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
patrolled; patrolling
: to carry out a patrol
: to carry out a patrol of
patroller
noun
Examples of patrol in a Sentence
Noun
The guard makes a patrol of the building every hour.
Soldiers are on patrol along the border.
Army patrols combed the area.
Verb
The squad had orders to patrol the area.
The border is patrolled by the army.
Recent Examples on the Web
Terry Moseley, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
For decades, the red beret has served as a visual signal of safety—especially in the city’s subways, where the Guardian Angels first began their patrols.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
During the dictatorships after World War II, the natural barrier of the Accursed Mountains was fortified, set about with land mines, and patrolled, effectively isolating the stronghold of Albania from the rest of the world.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
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Noun
Employees deemed essential to public safety, including military personnel, law enforcement officers, border patrol and air traffic controllers, are required to work regardless.
—Terry Moseley, USA Today, 16 Oct. 2025
For decades, the red beret has served as a visual signal of safety—especially in the city’s subways, where the Guardian Angels first began their patrols.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
An officer patrolling pulled onto the block and saw the group assaulting the employee.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
During the dictatorships after World War II, the natural barrier of the Accursed Mountains was fortified, set about with land mines, and patrolled, effectively isolating the stronghold of Albania from the rest of the world.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Cite this Entry
“Patrol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrol. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
patrol
1 of 2 noun
pa·trol
pə-ˈtrōl 
1
a
: the action of going the rounds of an area for observation or guard
b
: the person or group doing the patrolling
2
: a part of a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop
patrol
2 of 2 verb
patrolled; patrolling
: to carry out a patrol or a patrol of
patroller
noun
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