cordon

American  

[kawr-dn] / ˈkɔr dn /

noun

1. a line of police, sentinels, military posts, warships, etc., enclosing or guarding an area.

2. a cord or braid worn for ornament or as a fastening.

3. a ribbon worn usually diagonally across the breast as a badge of a knightly or honorary order.

4. Fortification.

   1. a projecting course of stones at the base of a parapet.

   2. the coping of a scarp.

5. Architecture.

   1. a stringcourse, especially one having little or no projection.

   2. a cut-stone riser on a stepped ramp or the like.

6. a fruit tree or shrub trained to grow along a support or a series of such supports.

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verb (used with object)

1. to surround or blockade with or as with a cordon (usually followed byoff ).

   The police cordoned off the street.

cordon British  

/ ˈkɔːdən /

noun

1. a chain of police, soldiers, ships, etc, stationed around an area

2. a ribbon worn as insignia of honour or rank

3. a cord or ribbon worn as an ornament or fastening

4. Also called: string course.   belt course.   table.  architect an ornamental projecting band or continuous moulding along a wall

5. horticulture a form of fruit tree consisting of a single stem bearing fruiting spurs, produced by cutting back all lateral branches

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verb

1. to put or form a cordon (around); close (off)

Etymology

Origin of cordon

1400–50; Middle English < Middle French, diminutive of corde

Explanation

That yellow police tape and group of officers encircling the crime scene? That's a kind of cordon — something set up to guard something. A cordon can also mean some kind of ornament or adornment made out of ribbon or cord, usually worn by military folks to signify honor or rank. Not surprising since cordon sounds similar to cord and comes from the Old French word for the same thing. But unless you're part of a security team or often dressed in full military regalia, you probably won't come into contact with cordons very often.

Example Sentences

The kid’s joy is as stratospheric as the plane; he adores everything but the airline’s chicken cordon bleu.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

A police cordon put in place while inquiries were carried out has since been lifted.

From BBC • May 18, 2026

As people gathered around the police cordon, the mother of one of the victims could be heard crying in despair from her car.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

A cordon was in place at Market Place, and the junctions from Gedling Road to Derby Street, Hallams Lane and Central Avenue, for most of Saturday.

From BBC • May 9, 2026

At 3:30 officials from the International Olympic Committee, draped in gold cords and wearing tall silk top hats and coats with long tails, walked out onto the Maifeld and formed a double cordon.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown

Related Words

• identification
• insignia
• marker
• medallion
• pin
• ribbon
• stamp
• symbol
• token