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

Clashes between anti-government protesters and riot police in the Peruvian capital, Lima, have left a 32-year-old man dead and more than 100 people injured, including many police officers.

Read more on BBC

The night before the heist worth up to $100 million, he witnessed a traffic collision and gave a police officer the number of his burner phone, according to two people involved with the case.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Now he wants to thank the members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue, police officers and volunteers for the "magnificent efforts" they put into finding him.

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Steve Smith, a 65-year-old former police officer from Colorado, has reduced his grocery bill by buying more shrimp instead of salmon and purchasing burger meat instead of rib-eye steaks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Its police officers deter crimes such as theft and thuggery while keeping the traffic flowing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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