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

In the following days there were sporadic reports of minor skirmishes between protesters and police forces, which were reinforced with more troops. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

There are parallels to the Epstein saga; tensions between an insular, blue-collar police force and federal agents with elite educations; systemic corruption; office politics. — Judy Berman, Time, 27 July 2026

On Sunday, Infantino thanked the host countries, the police forces and volunteers for ensuring safety and security. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 27 July 2026

In plain English, the military is not a national police force. — James Robenalt, Vanity Fair, 27 July 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