police officer

[puh-lees aw-fuh-ser, of-uh-]

noun

1. any policeman or policewoman; patrolman or patrolwoman.

2. a person having officer rank on a police force.

police officer

noun

1. Often (esp as form of address) shortened to: officer. a member of a police force, esp a constable; policeman

Word History and Origins

Origin of police officer¹

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

According to the Long Beach Post, ICE agents chased a gardener into a restaurant in front of Long Beach police officers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Armed police officers, the Coastguard and members of the Royal Marines were called in to track down the animal from north Wales after he fled a festive celebration in Formby, Merseyside, on Saturday.

Read more on BBC

We wanted to check whether this inventory was authentic, so we showed it to another former high-ranking police officer from the riot police who confirmed it seemed genuine.

Read more on BBC

At the Chilean border, Peruvian police officers offer water to the migrants to help them in the desert heat, but refuse to allow them to cross.

Read more on Barron's

In another, Munshi stands defiantly before the entrance of a boycotted British department store, uncowed by a group of British police officers towering over her - and stylishly dressed in a sleeveless sari blouse.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• constable 
• deputy 
• detective 
• marshal 
• military police 
• officer 
• policeman 
• trooper