posse

American  

[pos-ee] / ˈpɒs i /

noun

1. posse comitatus.

2. a body or force armed with legal authority.

3. Slang. a group of friends or associates.

   hanging out with your posse; a posse of drug dealers.

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posse British  

/ ˈpɒsɪ /

noun

1. Also called: posse comitatus.  the able-bodied men of a district assembled together and forming a group upon whom the sheriff may call for assistance in maintaining law and order

2. law possibility (esp in the phrase in posse )

3. slang a Jamaican street gang in the US

4. informal a group of friends or associates

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Etymology

Origin of posse

First recorded in 1575–85; from Medieval Latin posse “power, force,” noun use of Latin infinitive: “to be able, have power,” contraction of potis “able” + esse “to be”; potent ¹

Example Sentences

“There is a law on the books, confirmed by the Constitution, called ‘posse comitatus,’” Pritzker told reporters earlier this month.

From Salon

Swift’s worldwide Eras tour continued, but she became a fixture at Chiefs games whenever possible, bringing along a posse of famous friends to hang with the Kelce family in their Arrowhead Stadium box seats.

From Salon

At the end of the day, a real-life stan of a pop star wants the same things that the people in Oliver’s fictional posse do: to have their existence validated by celebrity.

From Salon

Since his posse won’t admit the truth, I will: It sucks.

From Los Angeles Times

“There is a law on the books, confirmed by the Constitution, called ‘posse comitatus,'” Pritzker said.

From Salon

Related Words

• detachment