police

American  

[puh-lees] / pəˈlis /

noun

1. Also called police force.  an organized civil force for maintaining order, preventing and detecting crime, and enforcing the laws.

2. (used with a plural verb) members of such a force.

   Several police are patrolling the neighborhood.

3. the regulation and control of a community, especially for the maintenance of public order, safety, health, morals, etc.

4. the department of the government concerned with this, especially with the maintenance of order.

5. any body of people officially maintained or employed to keep order, enforce regulations, etc.

6. people who seek to regulate a specified activity, practice, etc..

   the language police.

7. Military. (in the U.S. Army)

   1. the cleaning and keeping clean of a camp, post, station, etc.

   2. the condition of a camp, post, station, etc., with reference to cleanliness.

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verb (used with object)

polices, present (3rd person singular) policed, past participle, past policing present participle

1. to regulate, control, or keep in order by or as if by means of police.

2. Military. to clean and keep clean (a camp, post, etc.)

police British  

/ pəˈliːs /

noun

1. 1. the organized civil force of a state, concerned with maintenance of law and order, the detection and prevention of crime, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a police inquiry

2. (functioning as plural) the members of such a force collectively

3. any organized body with a similar function

   security police

4. archaic

   1. the regulation and control of a community, esp in regard to the enforcement of law, the prevention of crime, etc

   2. the department of government concerned with this

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verb

1. to regulate, control, or keep in order by means of a police or similar force

2. to observe or record the activity or enforcement of

   a committee was set up to police the new agreement on picketing

3. to make or keep (a military camp, etc) clean and orderly

Pronunciation

Many English words exemplify the original stress rule of Old English and other early Germanic languages, according to which all parts of speech except unprefixed verbs were stressed on the first syllable, and prefixed verbs were stressed on the syllable immediately following the prefix. Although the scope of this rule has been greatly restricted by the incorporation into English of loanwords that exhibit other stress patterns, the rule has always remained operative to some degree, and many loanwords have been conformed to it throughout the history of English. For South Midland and Midland U.S. speakers in particular, shifting the stress in borrowed nouns from a noninitial syllable to the first syllable is still an active process, yielding for police and for Detroit, as well as cement, cigar, guitar, insurance, umbrella, and idea said as , , , , , and .

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• well-policed
  adjective
• prepolice
  adjective
• unpoliced
  adjective
• overpolice
  verb (used with object)

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have policed
  perfect
• has policed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• are policing
  progressive
• has been policing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been policing
  perfect progressive
• policing
  participle
• polices
  singular 3rd person
• am policing
  progressive 1st person singular
• is policing
  progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had policed
  perfect
• was policing
  progressive singular
• had been policing
  perfect progressive
• were policing
  progressive plural
• policed
  simple
• policed
  participle

Future

• will police
  simple
• will have policed
  perfect
• will be policing
  progressive
• will have been policing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of police

First recorded in 1520–30; from Middle French: “government, civil administration, police,” from Late Latin polītia “citizenship, government,” from Latin polītīa; see polity

Explanation

The word police refers to the members of a law enforcement organization, or to the organization itself. If you see a crime being committed, you should call the police. The job of the police is to protect citizens and enforce laws. You might see police patrolling parks or maintaining order at large gatherings, like concerts and demonstrations. As a verb, to police is to enforce laws or keep a watchful eye on things. Actual police officers might police a political protest, while teachers are sometimes called upon to police school dances and parties.

Example Sentences

“We’re educating the public on what these terms are, what they mean, and what to look for,” said Los Angeles police officer Brandon Pon of the West Traffic Division.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

In another pending case about police sweeps of cellphone location data, lawyers debated whether warrants requiring Google to share information were akin to how British customs officers harassed colonists before the American Revolution.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

The criminal probe was a significant escalation in the yearslong effort to police serial pollution offenses by Virginia-based Southern Coal and dozens of affiliated mining operations controlled by the family.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

"It is alleged that more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland," the police said in a statement.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Yesterday the S.D.—the political police who worked under the Gestapo—had ordered her to close the family clothing store.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• force
• law enforcement
• squad
• troops