Police — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /pə-ˈlēs/ po·lice

Meaning & Definition of Police

Police (noun)

  1. the department of government concerned primarily with maintenance of public order, safety, and health and enforcement of laws and possessing executive, judicial, and legislative powers
  2. the department of government charged with prevention, detection, and prosecution of public nuisances and crimes
  3. police force

Police (verb)

  1. to control, regulate, or keep in order by use of police
  2. to perform the functions of a police force in or over
  3. to supervise the operation, execution, or administration of to prevent or detect and prosecute violations of rules and regulations

Police (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the department of government that keeps order, fights crime, and enforces statutes

    "the appearance of a ransom note meant that the teenager's disappearance was now a matter for the police"

    similar: law
  2. a body of officers of the law

    "the National Guard will serve as backup for the metropolitan police in the event of violent protests"

    related: bluecoat, bobby (British), bull (slang), constable, cop, copper, gendarme, officer, peeler (British), policeman, police officer, policewoman, shamus (slang), trooper

Police (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in patrol, conduct

Related Entry: Police force (noun)

Police force is a different word from Police. The synonyms below are for police force, not for police.

  1. a body of officers of the law

    "mobilized practically the entire police force to track down the escaped criminal"

    similar: constabulary, finest, force, fuzz, heat (slang), man, police
    related: bluecoat, bobby (British), bull (slang), constable, cop, copper, gendarme, officer, peeler (British), policeman, police officer, policewoman, shamus (slang), trooper

Related Entry: Police officer (noun)

Police officer is a different word from Police. The synonyms below are for police officer, not for police.

  1. a member of a force charged with law enforcement at the local level

    "there were police officers directing traffic around the scene of the accident"

    similar: bobby (British), bull (slang), constable (chiefly British), cop, copper, flatfoot (slang), fuzz, gendarme, lawman, officer, policeman, shamus (slang)
    near: civilian

Related Entry: Police (up) (verb)

Police (up) is a different word from Police. The synonyms below are for police (up), not for police.

  1. as in turn out, straighten (up)

Related Entry: Police action (noun)

Police action is a different word from Police. The synonyms below are for police action, not for police.

  1. as in civil war, world war

Related Entry: Police actions (noun)

Police actions is a different word from Police. The synonyms below are for police actions, not for police.

  1. as in civil wars, world wars

Related Entry: Police dog (noun)

Police dog is a different word from Police. The synonyms below are for police dog, not for police.

  1. as in guide dog, working dog

Related Entry: Police dogs (noun)

Police dogs is a different word from Police. The synonyms below are for police dogs, not for police.

  1. as in guide dogs, working dogs

Related Entry: Police reporter (noun)

Police reporter is a different word from Police. The synonyms below are for police reporter, not for police.

  1. as in staffer, sportswriter

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Police

The most common words with a similar meaning to Police:

Slang: heat

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Police

Words with the opposite meaning of Police:

Word Forms of Police

Inflections: policed, policing

Origin & Etymology of Police

Middle English, "regulation of public affairs," borrowed from Middle French, "administrative organization, conduct of a collective body (as the government or church)," borrowed from Late Latin polītīa "citizenship, political organization, constitution of a state, administrative direction" (Latin, the title of Plato's dialogue The Republic), borrowed from Greek polīteía "body of citizens, citizenship, government, administration, constitution of a state, republican government," collective or abstract derivative of polī́tēs "citizen, freeman," from pólis "citadel, city, community of citizens, city-state" + -ītēs -ite:1; pólis going back to o-grade ablaut of an Indo-European base *pelH-, whence also, from zero-grade *pl̥H-, Sanskrit púr-, pū́ḥ "wall, rampart," Lithuanian pilìs "fortress, castle," Latvian pils

First known use: 1698

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Police

Words & Phrases Containing Police

Frequently Asked Questions about Police

What does "Police" mean?

"Police" means the department of government concerned primarily with maintenance of public order, safety, and health and enforcement of laws and possessing executive, judicial, and legislative powers. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: the department of government concerned primarily with maintenance of public order, safety, and health and enforcement of laws and possessing executive, judicial, and legislative powers. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Police"?

Other words for "Police" include law, constabulary, finest, force, fuzz, heat, man and police force. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Police" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Police"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Police". Common alternatives include law, constabulary, finest, force, fuzz, heat, man, police force, administrate and conduct.

What is the opposite of "Police"?

Antonyms of "Police" include abandon, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect and pass over.

How do you use "Police" in a sentence?

Examples of "Police" in a sentence: "the appearance of a ransom note meant that the teenager's disappearance was now a matter for the police"; "the National Guard will serve as backup for the metropolitan police in the event of violent protests".

Is "Police" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Police" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Police" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Police" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Police"?

"Police" is pronounced /pə-ˈlēs/ and divided into syllables as po·lice.