Synonyms

police state

American

noun

a nation in which the police, especially a secret police, summarily suppresses any social, economic, or political act that conflicts with governmental policy.

police state British

noun

a state or country in which a repressive government maintains control through the police

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

police state Cultural

A nation whose rulers maintain order and obedience by the threat of police or military force; one with a brutal, arbitrary government.

Etymology

Origin of police state

First recorded in 1860–65

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.

"Today will be considered one of the great days of NSW Police," state Police Minister David Elliott said.

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2021

D’Assandro declined further comment about the closures, while spokespersons for Whitmer, Michigan State Police, state Senate leaders and state House Democratic leadership did not immediately respond to requests for comment late on Sunday.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 14, 2020

This year, an Illinois State Police state trooper and the school resource officer gave talks telling students about the dangers.

From Washington Times • Jul. 21, 2014

Police, state troopers, FBI agents and thousands of volunteers fanned out through the 515-sq.-mi. county, searching for the car, the kids, any clue at all.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023