constabulary

¹ American  

[kuhn-stab-yuh-ler-ee] / kənˈstæb jəˌlɛr i /

noun

• constabularies
  plural

1. the body of constables of a district.

2. a body of officers of the peace organized on a military basis.

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constabulary ² American  

[kuhn-stab-yuh-ler-ee] / kənˈstæb jəˌlɛr i /

Also constabular

adjective

1. pertaining to constables or their duties.

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constabulary British  

/ kənˈstæbjʊlərɪ /

noun

1. the police force of a town or district

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adjective

1. of or relating to constables, constabularies, or their duties

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• constabularies
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of constabulary¹

1350–1400; < Medieval Latin constabulāria, feminine of constabulārius constabulary ²; replacing Middle English constablerie < Old French < Medieval Latin as above

Origin of constabulary²

1815–25; < Medieval Latin constabulārius; see constable, -ary

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Explanation

You can refer to a police force as a constabulary. If your mother and your grandfather were both police officers, you might want to follow the family tradition and join the constabulary as well. You're most likely to use this word if you live in the United Kingdom, where police officers are known as constables and individual county police forces are often called constabularies. In the U.S., the term is reserved for specially assembled forces, like the ones established in foreign countries following wars — the U.S. constabulary in Germany after World War II is one example.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

constabulary constabularies

The inquiry heard Sanders had noted that a coordinated media release, with families affected, would be required, adding it could have a "significant impact on the reputation of the constabulary".

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026

"Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to our colleagues in the constabulary, local communities and the people who have worked extremely hard in very difficult circumstances."

From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2025

Mr Hansen joined the constabulary as deputy chief constable in May 2013 and took the top job in May 2017, becoming the 16th person to head up the force in its history.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2024

The custom dates back more than 150 years, but was stopped in 1909 by the local constabulary, which saw the "straw bears" as a form of "cadging", or begging, for rewards.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2024

These Pulajans have fled from Gandara where they are being actively pursued by constabulary.

From The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by James H. Blount

Miller told the BBC that constabularies had been taking steps to improve wellbeing.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

"There is data coming in from 43 different constabularies and there are varying levels of quality," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2023

The Guardian approached the remaining police forces in England and Wales, as well as constabularies in Scotland and Northern Ireland, none of whom are currently investigating allegations, fresh or historical, into Heath.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 6, 2015

Police commissioners were invented by the current government with the admirable motive of making constabularies accountable to their local communities.

From The Guardian ● Sep. 20, 2014

That is genuinely constructive work, and will do more to a humane solution of the class struggle than all the jails and state constabularies that ever betrayed the barbarism of the Twentieth Century.

From A Preface to Politics by Walter Lippmann

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Related Words

• constable
• detective
• man
• officer
• patrolman
• patrolwoman
• police
• policewoman

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