police force

noun

: a body of trained officers entrusted by a government with maintenance of public peace and order, enforcement of laws, and prevention and detection of crime

Synonyms of police force

• police
• constabulary

Examples of police force in a Sentence

He joined the local police force.

mobilized practically the entire police force to track down the escaped criminal

Recent Examples on the Web

Set in the years preceding the handover, the film details the early power struggles and systemic corruption within the police force that set the stage for the original franchise. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 May 2026

The council then voted to reinstate the police force. —Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 9 May 2026

Metro has worked to improve safety across its network, prioritizing a new police force and additional safeguards, such as its ambassador program, with some real success. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026

In the final years of the Japanese shogunate, the Shinsengumi were the samurai police force tasked with keeping order in Kyoto. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 8 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for police force

• bourse
• coarse
• course
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse
• norse
• source
• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce

Kids Definition

police force

noun

: a body of officers trained and entrusted by a government to keep public peace, enforce laws, and prevent and detect crime

Legal Definition

police force

noun

: a body of trained officers entrusted by a government with maintenance of public peace and order, enforcement of laws, and prevention and detection of crime