patrolman

[ puh-trohl-muhn ]

noun

, plural pa·trol·men.

1. a police officer who is assigned to patrol a specific district, route, etc.
2. a person who patrols.

patrolman

/ pəˈtrəʊlmən /

noun

1. a man, esp a policeman, who patrols a certain area
2. a man employed to patrol an area to help motorists in difficulty

Gender Note

See -man.

Word History and Origins

Origin of patrolman¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; patrol + -man

Example Sentences

Then, in January 2020, prosecutors allege Murdaugh relied on “his prestige and reputation as a lawyer” to convince a highway patrolman who was injured in the line of duty to sign over his insurance check to his former law firm.

From The Daily Beast

His alleged victims include a highway patrolman who was injured while on duty, documents state.

From The Daily Beast

Wersick asked Officer Mark Gribble as the patrolman wrestled him down to the sidewalk.

From Washington Post

Gobert is so valuable as a paint patrolman that the Jazz do their best to keep him as close to the basket as possible, as often as possible.

From FiveThirtyEight

As Lanny Johnson, a former ski patroller, says, “There’s nowhere in the world where you can work as a ski patrolman related to avalanche hazard that’s any more dangerous than Alpine Meadows.”

From Outside Online

The officer who shot Myers was identified as Jason Flanery, a 32-year-old white patrolman.

From The Daily Beast

Well, the kid sued, the papers got it, and soon the chief wanted to see Patrolman France—privately.

From The Daily Beast

See, a hippie came through town, so Patrolman France arrested him.

From The Daily Beast

“I shot him,” Michele Wanko, 42, reportedly told Parkside Police Patrolman Brian McNeill Jr.

From The Daily Beast

There was no time now to seek out the patrolman on the post; the job must be all his.

From Project Gutenberg

The eye of one man, punched out by a patrolman's club, hung on his cheek.

From Project Gutenberg

He summoned a patrolman to guide them to the wireless rooms and wished the boys success.

From Project Gutenberg

One young girl's fall was broken by a policeman's brawny arms—no other than Patrolman Chandler.

From Project Gutenberg

This was the girl Patrolman Chandler caught in his arms, who laughed and then fainted away.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• constable
• policewoman