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
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
The department has just nine patrol deputies who respond to all emergencies for the entire county, according to Turner.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 26 Sep. 2025
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
Masked agents have been seen patrolling the perimeter, and at least two immigration law firms are situated directly behind the building, according to The New York Times.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
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Noun
The following day, Wenatchee police detectives recontacted the state patrol with additional information, and the alert was issued, police said.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
The department has just nine patrol deputies who respond to all emergencies for the entire county, according to Turner.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
The rescue occurred after federal agents were patrolling near Otay Lakes County Park and heard someone calling out in a canyon near Savage Dam, Border Patrol officials said.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Sep. 2025
Masked agents have been seen patrolling the perimeter, and at least two immigration law firms are situated directly behind the building, according to The New York Times.
—Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 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 30 Sep. 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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