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Synonyms

lawman

1 American  
[law-man, -muhn] / ˈlɔˌmæn, -mən /

noun

plural

lawmen

  1. an officer of the law, as a sheriff or police officer.

Lawman 2 American  
[law-muhn] / ˈlɔ mən /

noun

  1. Layamon.

lawman British  
/ ˈlɔːmən /

noun

  1. an officer of the law, such as a policeman or sheriff

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lawman

before 1000; Middle English laweman, earlier lageman, Old English lahmann. See law 1, -man

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.

Michael Gates is basing his run for California attorney general on his decade-long reign as Huntington Beach’s top lawman.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

The FBI’s lead investigator was Joe Sullivan, whom Tom Clancy called “the greatest lawman America ever produced.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

“Sheriff Pusser inspired thousands to enter into law enforcement,” Sweat told me, gesturing to a Pusser admirer turned lawman who had just visited his shop to talk Pusser.

From Slate • Nov. 6, 2025

A.I. is becoming more lifelike by the day, making Olyphant’s quirky and very human contribution to the series’ android lineage a special kick to watch, and a welcome departure from his various lawman roles.

From Salon • Aug. 5, 2025

White suspected that Hale would never admit his sins, certainly not to a lawman and perhaps not even to the God whom he so often invoked.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

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.