- present participle of police.
policing
Americannoun
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the act of maintaining public order and security, enforcing the law, or regulating or controlling something, by or as if by members of a police force.
No matter what style is adopted for the policing of a community, officers must use discretion in interpreting the activities of citizens.
Careful family use of the internet doesn't need to be a punitive policing of children's activities online.
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Military. the act of cleaning up a camp or post or of keeping it clean.
After the major’s visit, the policing of the entire camp and all the fighting positions improved 100 percent.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of policing
First recorded in 1830–40; police ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. )
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.
The report continued that the greatest strength of policing is its workforce, with the vast majority of officers showing professionalism and courage.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
"If managed correctly, I firmly believe that reform presents a significant opportunity to deliver a better service for both the public and those working within policing," she added.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Insp Hayley Thompson, who oversees policing in Kings Heath, said the force took anti-social behaviour "incredibly seriously" and they were working to make the area safer.
From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026
Sabalenka didn’t appear particularly interested in policing what New Yorkers do in their spare time as recreational use is legal in the state.
From Salon ● Sep. 5, 2026
We can prevent the people fighting wars or staffing emergency rooms or policing the streets from making mistakes.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
