dragnet

American  

[drag-net] / ˈdrægˌnɛt /

noun

1. a net to be drawn along the bottom of a river, pond, etc., or along the ground, to catch fish, small game, etc.

2. a system or network for finding or catching someone, as a criminal wanted by the police.

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dragnet British  

/ ˈdræɡˌnɛt /

noun

1. a heavy or weighted net used to scour the bottom of a pond, river, etc, as when searching for something

2. any system of coordinated efforts by police forces to track down wanted persons

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Etymology

Origin of dragnet

Middle English word dating back to 1535–45; drag, net ¹, dray

Example Sentences

In our quest to catch the neighborhood porch pirate, we’ve inadvertently built a dragnet that catches much more.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I am not white, as you can see,” she told the judge, explaining that her own family was at risk of being swept up in the same dragnet she was being forced to defend.

From Salon

Both men were assigned to Operation Metro Surge, an immigration enforcement dragnet launched in December that sent scores of armed and masked agents across the city.

From Salon

To many Americans, the viral image of a child swept up in an enforcement dragnet is horrifying.

From Salon

At least two American citizens were caught up in the dragnet — a security guard headed to work at Glass House and a philosophy professor at Cal State Channel Islands who was protesting the raid.

From Los Angeles Times