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.
More than 21,000 security personnel from the national police, army and armed police forces have been dispatched to aid in search and rescue efforts, officials said. — Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 The bias in police recruitment was even worse in South Africa under apartheid, when the police forces were all-white organizations that frequently abused their power in dealings with Black South Africans. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026 The enclave’s small police force was quickly overwhelmed and unable to bring the protesters or migrants under control. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2026 The eight-episode series, written by Peter Ocko, follows a giant tech conglomerate that persuades the city to place a powerful robot on its police force – a robot implanted with the consciousness of a beloved fallen officer, Alex Murphy (Stevens). — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 28 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 4 Sep. 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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