police

verb po·lice \ pə-ˈlēs \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Examples: police in a Sentence

Definition of police

policed; policing

transitive verb

1 archaic : govern

2 : to control, regulate, or keep in order by use of police

3 : to make clean and put in order

4 a : to supervise the operation, execution, or administration of to prevent or detect and prosecute violations of rules and regulations

b : to exercise such supervision over the policies and activities of

5 : to perform the functions of a police force in or over

See police defined for English-language learners

See police defined for kids

Examples of police in a Sentence

The officers police the streets for reckless drivers.
The coast is policed by the military.
The international agency polices the development of atomic energy facilities.

Recent Examples of police from the Web

Despite the criticism, Hackitt’s report amounted to a striking indictment of property developers and related industries, and the officials who police them.

— richard pérez-peña, BostonGlobe.com, "Grenfell fire inquiry demands radical overhaul of UK building rules," 17 May 2018
Despite the criticism, Ms. Hackitt’s report amounted to a striking indictment of property developers and related industries, and the officials who police them.

— New York Times, "Grenfell Fire Inquiry Demands Radical Overhaul of U.K. Building Rules," 17 May 2018
This creates a dangerous circumstance for prisoners and the officers who police them.

— nick hollkamp, The Courier-Journal, "Voters guide: Candidates for family court and district judges," 16 May 2018
But with untold small businesses hawking their wares and services on the internet, policing them can be a daunting task.

— matthew walberg, chicagotribune.com, "Reese Mathers, the most satisfied consumer in the world?," 11 May 2018
And his players weren’t mature enough to police themselves.

— paul daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Paul Daugherty: Cincinnati Reds should take a look in the mirror after firing Bryan Price," 19 Apr. 2018
Humor is the most resilient enemy of zealotry, which is why so many fanatics have tried to ban or police it, from the original Puritans to the new p.c.

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "A Democracy Disappears," 13 Apr. 2018
That means fight fight fight! #YankeesvsRedSox — Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) April 12, 2018 Former Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said the beaning was just baseball policing itself.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "Hall of Famers say Yankees player was justifiably hit by pitch by Boston after slide | The Kansas City Star," 12 Apr. 2018
The feeling seems to be that anything is better than letting Facebook continue to inadequately police itself.

— aja romano, Vox, "Don’t ask whether Facebook can be regulated. Ask which Facebook to regulate.," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'police.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of police

in sense 1, from Middle French policier, from police conduct of public affairs; in other senses, from ²police

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1589

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

police

noun, often attributive

Definition of police

plural police

1 a : the internal organization or regulation of a political unit through exercise of governmental powers especially with respect to general comfort, health, morals, safety, or prosperity

b : control and regulation of affairs affecting the general order and welfare of any unit or area

c : the system of laws for effecting such control

2 a : the department of government concerned primarily with maintenance of public order, safety, and health and enforcement of laws and possessing executive, judicial, and legislative powers

b : the department of government charged with prevention, detection, and prosecution of public nuisances and crimes

3 a : police force

b plural : police officers

4 a : a private organization resembling a police force

campus police

b plural : the members of a private police organization

5 a : the action or process of cleaning and putting in order

b : military personnel detailed to perform this function

6 : one attempting to regulate or censor a specified field or activity

the fashion police

See police defined for English-language learners

Examples of police in a Sentence

Police arrested a man whom they identified as the murderer.
the appearance of a ransom note meant that the teenager's disappearance was now a matter for the police

Recent Examples of police from the Web

The 34-year-old was arrested last week after police responded to reports of a possible burglary in a mobile home park.

— jenna west, SI.com, "Kellen Winslow Jr. Arrested, Facing Kidnapping and Rape Charges," 14 June 2018
Over the weekend, police responded to a Marshalls store in Deptford where a man and two women were allegedly shoplifting.

— aubrey nagle, Philly.com, "Pa. baseball bat country in trouble, 'fair workweek' finds Council allies | Morning Newsletter," 14 June 2018
All three men reportedly were co-workers at a local restaurant, police say.

— Detroit Free Press, "Troy man charged with drunken driving in Rochester Hills fatal crash," 14 June 2018
Verner lacked a license, insurance and was driving an unregistered car, police said.

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Waterbury Police Seek Hit-And-Run Driver, Saying He Struck Boy, Left," 14 June 2018
Elisabeth Albanese told us that police responded to a disturbance call from the Beverly Hills Hotel.

— sasha savitsky, Fox News, "Farrah Abraham held on $500 bail after arrest for hitting security guard," 13 June 2018
Conroe police responded to the wreck just before midnight on Crighton Road at Crighton Ridge.

— samantha ketterer, Houston Chronicle, "Man fatally crashes into tree in Conroe," 13 June 2018
Kansas City police responded to the 5900 block of E. 40th Terrace shortly before 6 p.m. Officers learned from witnesses that two suspects fled the area in a older model blue or gray Dodge Ram with temporary tags.

— max londberg, kansascity, "Man killed in Kansas City neighborhood as suspects flee scene in truck, police say," 13 June 2018
In the Tuesday night incident, Florip said police initially responded to a home invasion call in the 1000 block of South Elmwood, but after interviews the call was reclassified as an altercation involving Battle and others.

— jim newton, Lake County News-Sun, "Great America battery fugitive jailed without bond after being caught again," 13 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of police

French, from Old French, from Late Latin politia government, administration, from Greek politeia, from politēs citizen, from polis city, state; akin to Sanskrit pur rampart, Lithuanian pilis castle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1698

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

police Synonyms

Synonyms

constabulary, force, heat [slang], police force;

Related Words

bobby [British], constable, cop, copper, gendarme, officer, policeman, police officer, policewoman, shamus [slang], trooper;

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

POLICE Defined for English Language Learners

police

verb

Definition of police for English Language Learners

: to control and keep order in (an area) by the use of police or military forces
: to control (something) by making sure that rules and regulations are being followed

police

noun

Definition of police for English Language Learners

: the people or the department of people who enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests

POLICE Defined for Kids

police

verb po·lice \ pə-ˈlēs \

Definition of police for Students

policed; policing

: to keep order in or among

Officers police the city.

police

noun

Definition of police for Students

plural police

1 : the department of government that keeps order and enforces law, investigates crimes, and makes arrests

2 police plural : members of a police force

Word Root of police

The Greek word polis, meaning “city” or “community,” and the related word polītēs, meaning “citizen,” give us the roots polis and polit. Words from Greek polis and polītēs have something to do with cities or communities or the citizens who live in them. A metropolis is the most important city in an area. The police are a group that enforces the law so as to protect citizens. Politics is the science and art of governing citizens.