police officer

American  

[puh-lees aw-fuh-ser, of-uh-] / pəˈlis ˌɔ fə sər, ˌɒf ə- /

noun

1. any policeman or policewoman; patrolman or patrolwoman.

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

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police officer British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of police officer

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Here, Flock still has an eager customer base of local elected officials, police officers, homeowners associations and businesses.

From Los Angeles Times

Before his death, Shah Alam had been in local police custody for nearly a year on assault and weapons charges related to an incident in which two police officers were injured, according to police.

From BBC

"In college, I was stopped because I ticked, 'I have drugs in my bag!' when I passed a police car. I wasn't even holding a bag. The police officers were very amused by it."

From BBC

On a bridge next to the Kremlin on a drizzly Friday morning, a lone Russian police officer stood looking at the half-dozen bunches of flowers laying in memory of slain opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.

From Barron's

The aim was to end the "cat and mouse" problem for police officers who often found trouble makers had moved on by the time they arrived.

From BBC

Related Words

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