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Showing results for constabulary. Search instead for nontabularly.
Synonyms

constabulary

1 American  
[kuhn-stab-yuh-ler-ee] / kənˈstæb yəˌlɛr i /

noun

plural

constabularies

  1. the body of constables of a district.

  2. a body of officers of the peace organized on a military basis.

constabulary 2 American  
[kuhn-stab-yuh-ler-ee] / kənˈstæb yəˌlɛr i /
Also constabular

adjective

  1. pertaining to constables or their duties.

constabulary British  
/ kənˈstæbjʊlərɪ /

noun

  1. the police force of a town or district

"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

adjective

  1. of or relating to constables, constabularies, or their duties

"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 constabulary1

1350–1400; < Medieval Latin constabulāria, feminine of constabulārius constabulary 2; replacing Middle English constablerie < Old French < Medieval Latin as above

Origin of constabulary2

1815–25; < Medieval Latin constabulārius; constable, -ary

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.

"I hope that our case will highlight failings within the constabulary and the chief constable will ensure that this never happens again."

From BBC • Nov. 16, 2025

Det Supt Haskins said while the teenagers - who were unknown to them - tried to evade the police, they used "all the powers and the force of the constabulary" to catch them.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2024

“In the meantime, I would like to assure residents and criminals alike that the constabulary will be operating as normal, keeping our residents safe, and preventing and detecting crime.”

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024

Scotland's chief inspector of constabulary has called for a strategic whole system review of mental health services.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2023

I’m a pleeceman, that’s what I am, county constabulary.

From A Fluttered Dovecote by Fenn, George Manville

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.