policeman

[ puh-lees-muh n ]

/ pəˈlis mən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR policeman ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural po·lice·men.

a member of a police force or body.

Ice Hockey. enforcer(def 4).

Nearby words

Origin of policeman

First recorded in 1795–1805; police + -man

Related formspo·lice·man·like, adjective

Usage note

See -man.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for policeman

Even before the shootings, New York policeman were telling the Mayor not to attend their funerals.
GOP Won’t Forgive Rand for Cop Critique|Lloyd Green|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Police say Myers charged at the policeman, they wrestled, and then he shot at least three bullets before his gun jammed.
The 14 Teens Killed by Cops Since Michael Brown|Nina Strochlic|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our Pashto interpreter explained how he had pretended to be a Pakistani policeman when interested crowds approached the compound.
I Shot Bin Laden|Elliot Ackerman|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The policeman then commandeers the dashcammed car and orders the driver to chase down the perp.
Russian Dashcam Car Chase|Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST

And when a policeman rises to the top, you take care of your old buddies by turning a blind eye to their businesses.
Hong Kong’s Triads Attack Protestors|Ben Leung|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A policeman in the street had seen them hire a cab and drive away through Broadway at a rapid pace.
The Bradys and the Girl Smuggler|Francis W. Doughty
Before Jean could answer, the policeman stretched out his hand and touched the young woman, who had been vainly trying to get out.
Mrs. Dorriman, Volume 2 of 3|Julie Bosville Chetwynd
The street was quite deserted; not even a cat or a policeman moved on it and Van Bibber's footsteps sounded brisk on the sidewalk.
Gallegher and Other Stories|Richard Harding Davis
The children may walk in them from morning till night, and I too, if I want to, with no policeman to drive us off.
The Battle with the Slum|Jacob A. Riis.
Perhaps this was why a policeman on the Embankment spoke to him, and said "Good evening."
The Man Who Was Thursday|G. K. Chesterton

British Dictionary definitions for policeman

policeman

feminine policewoman

/ (pəˈliːsmən) /

noun plural -men or -women

a member of a police force, esp one holding the rank of constableGender-neutral form: police officer

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

Word Origin and History for policeman

policeman

1790, from police (n.) + man (n.).

Medicine definitions for policeman

policeman

[ pə-lēs′mən ]

n.

An instrument, usually a rubber-tipped rod, for removing solid particles from a glass container.

policeman

noun, plural po·lice·men.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of policeman

Usage note

Examples from the Web for policeman

British Dictionary definitions for policeman

policeman

feminine policewoman

noun plural -men or -women

Word Origin and History for policeman

policeman

Medicine definitions for policeman

policeman

n.