constabulary
1 Americannoun
-
the body of constables of a district.
-
a body of officers of the peace organized on a military basis.
adjective
noun
adjective
Etymology
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; see constable, -ary
Explanation
You can refer to a police force as a constabulary. If your mother and your grandfather were both police officers, you might want to follow the family tradition and join the constabulary as well. You're most likely to use this word if you live in the United Kingdom, where police officers are known as constables and individual county police forces are often called constabularies. In the U.S., the term is reserved for specially assembled forces, like the ones established in foreign countries following wars — the U.S. constabulary in Germany after World War II is one example.
Vocabulary lists containing constabulary
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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.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also stated she had lost confidence in the chief constable, following an update on a "damning" review from the chief inspector of constabulary and what she called a "failure of leadership".
From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026
"Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to our colleagues in the constabulary, local communities and the people who have worked extremely hard in very difficult circumstances."
From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025
He added: "I believe the school tried to use the police to close down legitimate inquiries, and for some reason the constabulary played along."
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2025
"The most notable of these was the way the constabulary released personal information about Nicola which was avoidable and unnecessary," he said.
From BBC • Nov. 21, 2023
At Sibalay, twenty miles below the mouth of the Hog, there was then a post of native constabulary, and once every two months a launch from Ilo-Ilo came to stock it with provisions.
From Caybigan by Hopper, James
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.
