Scotland Yard

American  

noun

1. a short street in central London, England: formerly the site of the London police headquarters, which were removed 1890 to a Thames embankment (New Scotland Yard ).

2. the metropolitan police of London, especially the branch engaged in crime detection.

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Scotland Yard British  

noun

1. Official name: New Scotland Yard.  the headquarters of the police force of metropolitan London, controlled directly by the British Home Office and hence having certain national responsibilities

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Etymology

Origin of Scotland Yard

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

In an update at New Scotland Yard, the force said it would submit evidence files to the Crown Prosecution Service by the end of September this year.

From BBC • May 19, 2026

The head of the Met's counter-terrorism unit told reporters outside New Scotland Yard shortly after the level was raised that the UK had been "experiencing a gradual terrorist threat for some time".

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Scotland Yard defended the legal challenge, brought over its use of the technology from September 2024, telling the court in London that the policy was lawful.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Ian Rutledge of Scotland Yard expects to spend the holiday in London—until he’s assigned, at the last moment, to investigate an incident in snowy Kent.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025

Fabyan told Elizebeth and William that the brawny stranger was from Scotland Yard, but it’s likely he came from another branch of British agents.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield