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

"He cannot do a Pontius Pilate and maintain he cannot interfere because policing is devolved."

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Birmingham appears to have a radical Islamist problem, and authorities are bowing to it rather than policing it.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"The government is working with policing and other partners to do everything in our power to ensure this game can safely go ahead, with all fans present," a government spokesperson said.

Read more on Barron's

Critics believe that stop-and-frisk tactics have taken a new, digitized form in what is known as “predictive policing,” a practice that reinforces racial bias through algorithms and big data.

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"This decision will leave gaping holes in front line policing," Elizabeth Campbell said.

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Related Words

• police 
• police force