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.

---

police officer British  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of police officer

First recorded in 1790–1800

Example Sentences

But the main witness, the police officer who had initially confronted Gamble, was grim-faced, rigidly polite, and completely serious about his claims.

From Slate • May 4, 2026

A police officer at the Marylander in February said he hasn’t seen evidence of that.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Dammeier began in law enforcement, working for a decade as a dispatcher, jailer and police officer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

"We are relieved that the President and the First Lady are safe and strong," Netanyahu wrote on X, expressing his wish for a speedy recovery of a US police officer wounded in the incident.

From Barron's • Apr. 26, 2026

I hurried to the door and unlocked it, and a German officer and a Judenrat police officer pushed past me down the hall.

From "Prisoner B-3087" by Alan Gratz

Related Words

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