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.
Continue reading ⦠CIVIC BREAKDOWN â Town's entire police force quits after bitter feud with city leaders boils over. — FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Overwhelmed police forces often failed to intervene as thousands of vandals, many wearing masks and caps that hid their faces, shattered storefront windows and walked off with merchandise. — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 His stance against the Blue Wall and systemic racism within the police force back in season eight blocked his options for promotion and a raise. — Ronda Racha Penrice, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 Crimes that occur on campus are typically investigated by the campus police force, which has the authority of a law enforcement agency but is controlled by Cornell. — Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 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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