policing

[puh-lee-sing]

noun

1. 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.

2. 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

• self-policing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of policing¹

First recorded in 1830–40; police ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

"It was not only a significant building for medicine, policing and death management, but it also became this hub for true crime and a huge tourist attraction," said Dr Byers.

Read more on BBC

Interpol, the international policing agency, says increased global migration and human trafficking has led to more people being reported missing outside of their countries, which can make identifying bodies more challenging.

Read more on BBC

Meanwhile, the IRS needs to stop policing speech.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

"More than a decade of cuts to community policing and youth outreach programmes has meant school leaders, too often, find themselves with little or no support," says general secretary, Pepe Di'lasio.

Read more on BBC

It has, he says, "presented policing with a number of challenges and put immense pressure on resources".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• police 
• police force