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

He was arrested on June 13 on the Greek island of Skiathos on suspicion of being the killer, in an operation involving cooperation between the Italian and Greek police forces as well as the FBI, and extradited back to Italy. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026

Mann joined the Lawrence police force at 21, but his career was cut short four years later when he was struck by a drunk driver while standing outside his vehicle on a routine car stop in 2002. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2026

In either case, there’s no rock & roll police force to stop groups from booking additional tours after their farewell runs end. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026

Waukegan has been long overdue for a new headquarters for its police force. — Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 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