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Synonyms

police action

American  

noun

  1. a relatively localized military action undertaken by regular armed forces, without a formal declaration of war, against guerrillas, insurgents, or other forces held to be violating international peace and order.

Etymology

Origin of police action

First recorded in 1880–85

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.

What sets these protests apart is the absence of major trade union leadership, which is unusual for labour movements in India, said a union leader who declined to be named for fear of police action.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Both men were arrested but Hehir was subsequently released and told he would face no further police action.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

The men were both arrested, however Hehir was subsequently released and told he would face no further police action.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

Now a former government adviser on terrorism law, an ex-police and crime commissioner and a leading politician are all urging police action.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2025

Let me describe this stereotyped situation: A crime wave is sweeping a city and citizens are clamoring for police action.

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright

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.