Police

Pronunciation

• AU, UK, US IPA: /pɵˈliːs/
• Southern American English IPA: /ˈpoÊŠliːs/

Origin

From Middle French police, from Latin politia ("state, government"), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία.

Full definition of police

Noun

1. A civil force granted the legal authority to enforce the law and maintain public order. from 18th c.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 18, ‘Then the father has a great fight with his terrible conscience,’ said Munday with granite seriousness. ‘Should he make a row with the police …? Or should he say nothing about it and condone brutality for fear of appearing in the newspapers?
2. Call the police!
   The police operating in New York City operate under the New York City Police Department, several other City agencies and boards, and several public authorities.
3. (regional, chiefly US, Caribbean, Scotland) A police officer. from 19th c.
• This time it is the worst kind of call a murder police can get.
4. (obsolete) Policy. 15th-19th c.
5. (obsolete) Communal living; civilization. 16th-19th c.
6. (now rare, historical) The regulation of a given community or society; administration, law and order etc. from 17th c.
• 2002, Colin Jones, The Greta Nation, Penguin 2003, p. 218:The notion of ‘police’ – that is, rational administration – was seen as a historical force which could bring civilized improvement to societies.

Synonyms

• the cobblers, the fuzz, pigs, 5-0, popo, the heat, filth, cops/coppers, bobbies, peelers, woodentops (UK - referring to uniformed officers), 6-up, the law (Texas)

Derived terms

Related terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To enforce the law and keep order among (a group).
   Extra security was hired to police the #Noun
• 2012, May 24, Nathan Rabin, Film: Reviews: Men In Black 3, Smith returns in Men In Black 3 as a veteran agent of a secret organization dedicated to policing the earth’s many extraterrestrials.
• 2013-08-10, Schumpeter, Cronies and capitols, Policing the relationship between government and business in a free society is difficult. Businesspeople have every right to lobby governments, and civil servants to take jobs in the private sector. Governments have to find the best people to fill important jobs: there is a limited supply of people who understand the financial system, for example.
2. (transitive) To patrol an area.
• 2006, Robert B. Parker, Hundred-Dollar Baby, Putnam, ISBN 0399153764, page 275,"Fire off several rounds in a residential building and stop to police the brass?"----