policing

[puh-lee-sing]

noun

1. the act of maintaining public order and security, enforcing the law, or regulating or controlling something, by or as if by members of a police force.

   No matter what style is adopted for the policing of a community, officers must use discretion in interpreting the activities of citizens.

   Careful family use of the internet doesn't need to be a punitive policing of children's activities online.

2. Military.,  the act of cleaning up a camp or post or of keeping it clean.

   After the major’s visit, the policing of the entire camp and all the fighting positions improved 100 percent.

Other Word Forms

• self-policing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of policing¹

First recorded in 1830–40; police ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

It has, he says, "presented policing with a number of challenges and put immense pressure on resources".

From BBC

Andy Burnham, Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, called on the government to provide more money for policing in the region following Thursday's attack on the synagogue.

From BBC

In 2022, Beijing signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands which has seen Chinese police officers embedded across the country, with another policing agreement forged in 2023.

From BBC

At 15:22 the Metropolitan Police's head of counter-terrorism policing, Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, confirmed a "terrorist incident" had been declared.

From BBC

Counter-terrorism policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said police forces across the UK were stepping up patrols at synagogues and Jewish sites to provide reassurance "to all those communities that have been affected by this incident".

From BBC

Related Words

• police 
• police force