constabulary

¹

[kuhn-stab-yuh-ler-ee]

noun

plural

constabularies 

1. the body of constables of a district.

2. a body of officers of the peace organized on a military basis.

constabulary

²

Also con·stab·u·lar

[kuhn-stab-yuh-ler-ee]

adjective

1. pertaining to constables or their duties.

constabulary

/ kənˈstæbjʊlərɪ /

noun

1. the police force of a town or district

adjective

1. of or relating to constables, constabularies, or their duties

Word History and Origins

Origin of constabulary¹

1350–1400; < Medieval Latin constabulāria, feminine of constabulārius constabulary ²; replacing Middle English constablerie < Old French < Medieval Latin as above

Origin of constabulary²

1815–25; < Medieval Latin constabulārius; constable, -ary

Example Sentences

He added: "I believe the school tried to use the police to close down legitimate inquiries, and for some reason the constabulary played along."

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"Molly Bury's behaviour fell way below what the constabulary expects and what the public would expect of a serving police officer."

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Det Supt Haskins said while the teenagers - who were unknown to them - tried to evade the police, they used "all the powers and the force of the constabulary" to catch them.

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Andy Cooke, chief inspector of constabulary, said the current police funding formula was "an anachronism".

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Mr Hansen joined the constabulary as deputy chief constable in May 2013 and took the top job in May 2017, becoming the 16th person to head up the force in its history.

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Related Words

• constable 
• detective 
• man 
• officer 
• patrolman 
• patrolwoman 
• police 
• policewoman