Synonyms

line of duty

American

[lahyn uhv doo-tee, dyoo-tee] / ˈlaɪn ʌv ˈdu ti, ˈdju ti /

noun

the performance of work; the normal procedures and responsibilities in a specific field (often used in the context of life-threatening occupations).

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.

See Examples For:

line of duty

"Our highest praise goes to the heroic police officers who risked their lives in the line of duty," Tusk said.

From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2026

PC Blades' wife said he "gave his life in the line of duty, protecting and serving others with courage, dedication and selflessness".

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Three firefighters died this week in the line of duty, two in Crete and one in the Peloponnese.

From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026

Ma supports the death penalty for those who kill police officers in the line of duty or commit heinous crimes against women and children.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

"Only in the line of duty," Hold-Your-Nose Billy chuckled.

From "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023