posse

[ pos-ee ]

/ ˈpɒs i /

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See synonyms for: posse / posses on Thesaurus.com

noun

posse comitatus.

a body or force armed with legal authority.

Slang. a group of friends or associates: hanging out with your posse; a posse of drug dealers.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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”; see potent¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use posse in a sentence

None of the current party leaders in Britain posses the force of will or powers of persuasion last seen under Blair.
How Britain Rushed to Inaction in Syria|Nico Hines|September 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Rabbi Hecht does indeed posses unique power and influence at Eliezer, over matters of Jewish law.
Cory Booker Is Nobody's Dupe|Ben Karp|June 24, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Arpaio once told me he got the idea for these so-called posses from watching Western movies as a kid.
Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio to Send Armed Posses to Protect Schools|Terry Greene Sterling|January 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The two posses decided to join forces and set off hauling their rations down the street.
Occupy Wall Street Takes on Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts|Caitlin Dickson|November 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST

He posses an incredible work ethic, has a lot of great ideas, and brings a lot of dedication to the blog.
What I Saw On The Blog|Noah Kristula-Green|August 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The expenses of posses were to be charged against the county.
Civil War and Reconstruction in Alabama|Walter L. Fleming
The bells had aroused the village, and everywhere posses of men were searching.
The New Boys at Oakdale|Morgan Scott
Finally it was decided to separate into posses of ten, all to converge at Crow's Cliff as soon as possible.
The Daughter of Anderson Crow|George Barr McCutcheon
Excursions can be made from Paris to places within easy distance that posses Gothic-Renaissance glass.
How France Built Her Cathedrals|Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
We still posses an original letter addressed by Claudius to the senate and people on this memorable occasion.
The History of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|Edward Gibbon

British Dictionary definitions for posse

posse

/ (ˈpɒsɪ) /

noun

Also called: posse comitatus US 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

law possibility (esp in the phrase in posse)

slang a Jamaican street gang in the US

informal a group of friends or associates

Word Origin for posse

C16: from Medieval Latin (n): power, strength, from Latin (vb): to be able, have power

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

posse

Origin of posse

Words related to posse

How to use posse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for posse

Word Origin for posse