police officer

noun

Definition of police officernext
as in policeman
a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level there were police officers directing traffic around the scene of the accident

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of police officer Two officers — Colorado State Patrol Trooper Willis Hugh Purdy and off-duty Estes Park police officer Michael Owen Conley — drowned while helping others evacuate. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 27 July 2026 Federal prosecutors in the Central District of California filed a motion Monday to drop a misdemeanor charge of impeding a federal police officer against SEIU-United Service Workers West President David Huerta. — Lia Russell july 27, Sacbee.com, 27 July 2026 The directive showed that some 2,000 police officers are no longer reporting for duty. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 27 July 2026 Hundreds of army troops, special forces soldiers and police officers were dispatched across the state after the slayings. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for police officer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for police officer
  1. policeman
  2. officer
  3. cop
  4. constable
Noun
  • People began rioting in Los Angeles’ predominantly Black Watts neighborhood after a crowd watched White policemen forcefully subdue a Black man.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 28 July 2026
  • Sugar’s purpose in this earthly life — to reunite lost families in the City of Angels — is crumbling under the maddening impossibility of convicting a policeman of a crime in a world where the crime is the point.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 24 July 2026
Definition of policeman
Noun
  • Syeda Sultana, chief operating officer at the digital marketing platform Vettted, spent a decade managing a global sustainability program.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • As officers worked to disperse traffic, prosecutors allege Stacer sprayed the officers' vehicle with a fire extinguisher.
    — Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of officer
Noun
  • The cops then obtained a search warrant for Klayme’s residence and took phones and laptops from his bedroom.
    — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 27 July 2026
  • In contrast, why is Alice the one at a new job when her cop boyfriend is the one who hurt her?
    — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 27 July 2026
Definition of cop
Noun
  • The woman was able to flee the scene and located deputy constables.
    — Adam England, PEOPLE, 15 July 2026
  • Troopers and Beacon Falls constables responded to the home and detained Drozdowski, state police said.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2026
Definition of constable

Browse Nearby Words

policemen
police officer
police officers
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Police officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/police%20officer. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on police officer

Nglish: Translation of police officer for Spanish Speakers

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