police force

noun

Synonyms of police forcenext
: a body of trained officers entrusted by a government with maintenance of public peace and order, enforcement of laws, and prevention and detection of crime

Synonyms of police force

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Examples of police force in a Sentence

He joined the local police force. mobilized practically the entire police force to track down the escaped criminal
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nathan Hochman is right to take this, or any, violation of the law by a badge-wearing member of our police force seriously, no matter what Flores’ intent was. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Trump announced last month that there had been a breakthrough in his plan to end the war, with Israeli forces withdrawing as Hamas disarms and an International Stabilization Force working with a new Palestinian police force to secure the enclave. — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026 In Los Gatos and Monte Sereno, community policing is the foundation of how the police force operates, said Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Chief Jamie Field in an email to this news organization. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 That was more than the budgets of a dozen state departments at the time, and about three times what Michigan paid for its entire state police force. — Mark Dee august 2, Idaho Statesman, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for police force

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of police force was in 1820

Rhymes for police force

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Browse Nearby Words

policedom
police force
police inspector
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Cite this Entry

“Police force.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/police%20force. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

police force

noun
: a body of officers trained and entrusted by a government to keep public peace, enforce laws, and prevent and detect crime

Legal Definition

police force

noun
: a body of trained officers entrusted by a government with maintenance of public peace and order, enforcement of laws, and prevention and detection of crime
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