law enforcement officer

American  

[law en-fawrs-muhnt aw-fuh-ser, of-uh-ser] / ˈlɔ ɛnˌfɔrs mənt ˌɔ fə sər, ˌɒf ə sər /

noun

1. a government employee whose main duties involve preventing, detecting, or punishing violations of the law; police officers, state troopers, sheriffs, rangers, etc., when considered collectively. LEO

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Etymology

Origin of law enforcement officer

First recorded in 1925–30

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

law enforcement officer

Myke Cole, a volunteer firefighter in New York’s Hudson Valley, is a former intelligence and law enforcement officer and the author, most recently, of “Steel Lobsters: Crown, Commonwealth, and the Last Knights in England.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

A survey released earlier this week by Michigan firm Epic-MRA suggests Al-Sayed has a narrow four-point lead over Rogers, a former law enforcement officer with long experience in politics.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026

A retired Tennessee law enforcement officer who was jailed for 37 days over a Kirk meme walked away with a $835,000 settlement once the charge collapsed.

From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026

Eventually, a law enforcement officer dressed in what looked like a leadership uniform came forward to beg crowds not to stampede the entrances.

From Barron's ● Jul. 5, 2026

The tall man was the Texas Attorney General, the chief law enforcement officer for the state.

From "Holes" by Louis Sachar

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