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constable

1 American  
[kon-stuh-buhl, kuhn-] / ˈkɒn stə bəl, ˈkʌn- /

noun

  1. an officer of the peace, having police and minor judicial functions, usually in a small town, rural district, etc.

  2. Chiefly British. a police officer.

  3. an officer of high rank in medieval monarchies, usually the commander of all armed forces, especially in the absence of the ruler.

  4. the keeper or governor of a royal fortress or castle.

Constable 2 American  
[kuhn-stuh-buhl, kon-] / ˈkʌn stə bəl, ˈkɒn- /

noun

  1. John, 1776–1837, English painter.

constable 1 British  
/ ˌkɒn-, ˈkʌnstəbəl /

noun

  1. (in Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc) a police officer of the lowest rank

  2. any of various officers of the peace, esp one who arrests offenders, serves writs, etc

  3. the keeper or governor of a royal castle or fortress

  4. (in medieval Europe) the chief military officer and functionary of a royal household, esp in France and England

  5. an officer of a hundred in medieval England, originally responsible for raising the military levy but later assigned other administrative duties

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Constable 2 British  
/ ˈkʌnstəbəl /

noun

  1. John. 1776–1837, English landscape painter, noted particularly for his skill in rendering atmospheric effects of changing light

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • constableship noun
  • underconstable noun

Etymology

Origin of constable

1200–50; Middle English conestable < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin comes stabulī count 2 of the stable 1

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.

Lord Austin said he was "amazed" the chief constable was still in a job.

From BBC

The titular Outlaw was the first Black constable of Graham, N.C.

From Los Angeles Times

The chief constable confirmed there was no documented feedback from Jewish representatives before the decision was communicated which expressed support for the ban.

From BBC

They have been joined by others including the chief executive of the Royal Edinburgh Botanic Garden, the chief constable of Police Scotland, a heritage kiltmaker and the founders of an island college.

From BBC

Yet Edward’s recollection is vague and doesn’t jibe with the observations of his doctor and the local constable.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.