citizen's arrest
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of citizen's arrest
First recorded in 1950–55
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Thomas posted his citizen’s arrest on Facebook and police arrested Rabson that day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2024
That Dixon saw a crime being committed gave him probable cause to make a citizen’s arrest, one of his attorneys William Brennan said.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 17, 2023
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
