police state
noun
: a political unit characterized by repressive governmental control of political, economic, and social life usually by an arbitrary exercise of power by police and especially secret police in place of regular operation of administrative and judicial organs of the government according to publicly known legal procedures
Examples of police state in a Sentence
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Once built, dismantling a police state often requires generational struggle.
—
Phillip Atiba Solomon, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
The passenger sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash, a news release from Cincinnati police states.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2026
Retribution and a criminal police state will rule.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Jim Crow laws systematically stripped them of those posts, and made America a de facto police state for Black folks.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
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Phillip Atiba Solomon, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
The passenger sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash, a news release from Cincinnati police states.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Feb. 2026
Retribution and a criminal police state will rule.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2026
Jim Crow laws systematically stripped them of those posts, and made America a de facto police state for Black folks.
—Literary Hub, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for police state
Cite this Entry
“Police state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/police%20state. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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