police officer

noun

Synonyms of police officernext
: a member of a police force

Examples of police officer in a Sentence

there were police officers directing traffic around the scene of the accident
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The episode took place just a few miles from where George Floyd was killed by a city police officer kneeling on his neck in 2020. Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026 Jackson famously defended Karen Read, who was accused of hitting her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe, with her car and leaving him to die during a snowstorm. Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 5 Jan. 2026 Placer family court records show Dupree’s former fiancee in December 2021 petitioned and received a domestic violence restraining order against the former police officer. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 5 Jan. 2026 Improvements in safety and support As police officers struggled in the aftermath, Manger, the former Capitol Police chief, said the department had to figure out how to better support them. Mary Clare Jalonick, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for police officer

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of police officer was in 1797

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Police officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/police%20officer. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

police officer

noun
: a member of a police force

More from Merriam-Webster on police officer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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