law enforcement officer

American  

[law en-fawrs-muhnt aw-fuh-ser, of-uh-ser] / ˈlɔ ɛnˌfɔrs mənt ˌɔ fə sər, ˌɒf ə sər /

noun

1. a government employee whose main duties involve preventing, detecting, or punishing violations of the law; police officers, state troopers, sheriffs, rangers, etc., when considered collectively. LEO

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Etymology

Origin of law enforcement officer

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

law enforcement officer

In a statement after the shooting, DHS said that the FBI will investigate "the potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer."

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

The agency didn’t say where the shooting took place but said the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Houston was investigating the potential assault of a federal law enforcement officer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

Her diagnosis came shortly after President Donald Trump ousted her from the post of America's top law enforcement officer, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.

From BBC ● May 27, 2026

Garcia, a career law enforcement officer who has cast himself in the political mold of conservative Texas Democrats Rep. Henry Cuellar and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, is an archetypal candidate for a competitive race like this.

From Slate ● May 22, 2026

The tall man was the Texas Attorney General, the chief law enforcement officer for the state.

From "Holes" by Louis Sachar