patrol car

noun

: a police automobile connected with headquarters by a two-way radio or computer : squad car
Placing an unarmed, compliant juvenile in the back of a patrol car transformed an investigatory stop into an arrest, the 9th Circuit held …—The National Law Journal

Examples of patrol car in a Sentence

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.
Arpaio staked patrol cars outside a Latina judge’s Paradise Valley home to see if the workers putting a new roof on her house were undocumented. — Michael Kiefer, Washington Post, 28 Oct. 2026 Sterling then stands Koya up and tells her to climb into the back seat of his patrol car. — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Officers located both vehicles as the group attempted to flee the scene when the car struck a patrol car, after which two of the suspects were taken into custody without further incident. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 The state’s evidence was strong, and included body camera footage of Lopez attacking the deputy and trying to grab his service weapon before taking off in the patrol car, Chief Assistant State Attorney Joseph Mansfield said. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patrol car

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patrol car was in 1926

Rhymes for patrol car

See All Rhymes for patrol car

Browse Nearby Words

patrol
patrol car
patrol judge
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Cite this Entry

“Patrol car.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrol%20car. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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