police

American  

[puh-lees] / pəˈlis /

noun

police plural

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.

---

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

---

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

• prepolice
  adjective
• unpoliced
  adjective
• well-policed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• police
  plural

Participles

• policing
  present
• policed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• police
  simple
• polices
  simple
• have policed
  perfect
• has policed
  perfect
• am policing
  progressive
• are policing
  progressive
• is policing
  progressive
• have been policing
  perfect progressive
• has been policing
  perfect progressive

Past

• policed
  simple
• had policed
  perfect
• was policing
  progressive
• were policing
  progressive
• had been policing
  perfect progressive

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

Police ordered the drivers traveling on the destroyed road to turn off their engines.

From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026

US Park Police have said five people have been arrested for vandalism in connection with the Reflecting Pool, and five others were issued federal citations.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

The crash is under investigation by the Nevada State Police Highway Patrol, which said additional information may be released next week.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 2, 2026

He reached into the water to see what it felt like, and as he prepared to leave US Park Police arrested him.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

When Annabelle opens the door, she does not find Yvonne or the Preston Police Department, or even her mother.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

Related Words

• force
• law enforcement
• squad
• troops