constabulary

¹

Also con·stab·u·lar

[kuhn-stab-yuh-ler-ee]

adjective

1. pertaining to constables or their duties.

constabulary

²

[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

/ 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

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

Origin of constabulary²

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

Example Sentences

The constabulary's complex is located in a highly secured area in Peshawar, and the attackers would have had to breach multiple levels of security to break in.

Read more on BBC

"I hope that our case will highlight failings within the constabulary and the chief constable will ensure that this never happens again."

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on BBC

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

Read more on BBC

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.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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