security police
Americannoun
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a police force responsible for maintaining order at a specific locale or under specific circumstances, as at an airport or factory.
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a police force concerned with detecting and preventing enemy espionage.
Etymology
Origin of security police
First recorded in 1915–20
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.
Kwan was reportedly arrested by Hong Kong national security police on suspicion of sedition.
From BBC • Dec. 4, 2025
Hours into their meeting, they approved a decision to form the party, catching the security police by surprise.
From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024
He described being harassed by state security police over the years during “sensitive periods” around the anniversary date.
From Washington Times • Sep. 22, 2023
A pro-democracy group separately said national security police had warned four of its members not to participate in the association’s march.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 26, 2023
I also heard the gruff voices of the security police who were in the process of searching the offices.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
