POLICE OFFICER Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

police officer

noun

Definition of police officer

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

civilian

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 The former Stoughton, Massachusetts police officer is charged with killing 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore and her unborn baby more than five years ago. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 The three Miami police officers who shot three civilians, killing a Baptist Health social worker stuck in traffic outside a Wynwood nightclub last year, won’t face criminal charges, according to a Miami-Dade State Attorney report obtained on Friday. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 Following the Yellow Vest protests of Paris in 2018, internal affairs officer Stéphanie Bertrand (Léa Drucker) must investigate the conduct of her fellow police officers during the demonstrations. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 Three minutes after the first 911 call was made, police officers arrived and entered the building, confirming the suspect was dead. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for police officer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for police officer

Noun

Hanuman inspires him to avenge the rape of his mother by a corrupt policeman working for a deceitful Hindu nationalist spiritual leader.

— Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
When plans were made for a visit to Japan by President Eisenhower in 1960—it was eventually called off—there weren’t enough policemen to guard his route into Tokyo, so the yakuza were mobilized to help.

— Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of policeman

Noun

Kering, which welcomed veteran automobile executive Luca de Meo as chief executive officer in September 2025, seems in a mood to shake up the group’s creative ranks.

— Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Upon entering the school building, Krantz said, officers confirmed that the suspect was dead and found the four other people who died from their injuries, and their families have been notified.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of officer

Noun

In January 2025, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch changed the department pursuit policy, barring cops from chasing after vehicles fleeing car stops unless a felony crime or a violent misdemeanor was committed.

— John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
Even as a former cop, he was shocked by the state of the place.

— Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of cop

Noun

Jenna Ziviani, a constable at the police station, helped deliver Lyla while receiving guidance from an ambulance officer on the phone.

— Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
Thompson alerted a town administrator and special constable named Sherise Fountain, who went to investigate.

— Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of constable

Browse Nearby Words

policemen

police officer

police officers

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Cite this Entry

Style

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

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Synonyms of police officer

noun

Example Sentences

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