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
Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Coast Guard has organized ship formations to continuously strengthen law enforcement patrols in the waters near Kinmen, further strengthening control over the relevant maritime areas.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2025
The soldiers have patrolled neighborhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and also have been assigned to trash pickup and to guard sports events.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
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Noun
The front of Sanders’ patrol vehicle was crushed, and the airbags deployed.
—Elizabeth Pritchett, FOXNews.com, 21 Nov. 2025
Coast Guard has organized ship formations to continuously strengthen law enforcement patrols in the waters near Kinmen, further strengthening control over the relevant maritime areas.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
Verb
In this new study, the team was curious if enticing these predators to patrol orchards could help reduce the risks.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2025
The soldiers have patrolled neighborhoods, train stations and other locations, participated in highway checkpoints and also have been assigned to trash pickup and to guard sports events.
—Arkansas Online, 27 Nov. 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 28 Nov. 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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