citizen's arrest

American  

noun

Law.

1. an arrest made by a private citizen whose authority derives from the fact of citizenship.

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citizen's arrest British  

noun

1. an arrest carried out by an ordinary member of the public rather than an officer of the law

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Etymology

Origin of citizen's arrest

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

In retrospect, I would’ve cheered, but I feel that might’ve interrupted the uncomfortable silence that fell upon the auditorium, maybe even sparked a citizen’s arrest, considering the scene's subject matter.

From Salon • May 3, 2025

He pointed to the responding police officer's notes, which had described the incident as a lawful citizen's arrest.

From BBC • Oct. 4, 2024

Evidence in the trial covered a relatively brief encounter but involved complicated legal issues arising from an off-duty officer asserting that he was making a citizen’s arrest — which in turn affected the self-defense arguments.

From Washington Post • Feb. 17, 2023

In 2020, Gallardo announced at a county meeting that he was placing all of the supervisors under citizen’s arrest.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2022

It prompted state legislators to significantly weaken a citizen’s arrest law that one local prosecutor had cited soon after the shooting to argue that the three men should not be arrested.

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2022