peace officer

noun

: a civil officer (such as a police officer) whose duty it is to preserve the public peace

Examples of peace officer in a Sentence

He was arrested for assaulting a peace officer.

Recent Examples on the Web

He was also found guilty in June of one count each of fleeing a pursuing peace officer’s motor vehicle while driving recklessly, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and driving or taking a vehicle without consent. — City News Service, Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026

Will County prosecutors previously charged Alsaidi with unlawful use of a weapon and obstructing a peace officer. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

Seventy-two-year-old Lise Beauchamp, 37-year-old Melany Rinker, also known as Melony Vanderbrink, and 63-year-old Nancy Jancke were each charged with obstruction of a peace officer after failing to give their names and dates of birth. — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026

He’s been charged with kidnapping, resisting arrest and two counts of assault on a peace officer. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

peace officer

noun

: a civil officer (as a police officer) whose duty it is to preserve the public peace