police

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A constituted body of officers representing the civil authority of government, empowered…

   A constituted body of officers representing the civil authority of government, empowered to maintain public order and safety, enforce the law, and prevent, detect, and investigate crime.

   • In the criminal justice system, the People are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police, who investigate crime, and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders.
2. 2

   The staff of such a department or agency, particularly its officers

   The staff of such a department or agency, particularly its officers; (regional, chiefly US, Caribbean, Jamaica, Scotland, countable) an individual police officer.

   • Pearlman: Very clever, Lester. You got it all figured, huh? Freamon: Me? I'm just a police.
   • This time it is the worst kind of call a murder police can get.
3. 3

   People who try to enforce norms or standards as if granted authority similar to the…

   People who try to enforce norms or standards as if granted authority similar to the police.

   • Who called the fashion police?
   • Then there were the taste police, who thought that this bulky modern machine was an inappropriate intrusion […]
   • A major drama has broken out in France after the local language police decreed one of their cute little accents to be largely redundant
4. ›+ 7 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Cleanup of a military facility, as a formal duty.

      • Q. […] What did you do that day? — A. I was cleaning up around quarters. Q. You had been on guard and went on police duty? You were policing, cleaning up around the barracks? — A. Yes, sir.
   2. 5

      Synonym of administration, the regulation of a community or society.

      • The notion of ‘police’ – that is, rational administration – was seen as a historical force which could bring civilized improvement to societies.
   3. 6

      Alternative form of policy.

   4. 7

      Alternative form of polity, civilization, a regulated community.

   5. 8

      To enforce the law and keep order among (a group).

      • Extra security was hired to police the crowd at the big game.
      • Smith returns in Men In Black 3 as a veteran agent of a secret organization dedicated to policing the earth’s many extraterrestrials.
   6. 9

      To clean up an area.

      • This comes to him through the company housekeeping, for in the field each organization takes care of itself, cooks its own food, makes its own beds, does its own policing (cleaning up); […]
      • Q. […] What did you do that day? — A. I was cleaning up around quarters. Q. You had been on guard and went on police duty? You were policing, cleaning up around the barracks? — A. Yes, sir.
      • ELIAS: Police up your extra ammo and frags, don't leave nothing for the dinks.
   7. 10

      To enforce norms or standards upon.

      • to police a person's identity

The neighborhood

• synonympolice officerlaw enforcement officers
• synonym5-O
• synonymBabylon
• synonymbacon
• synonymBig Blue Machine
• synonymBill
• synonymboydem
• synonymconstabulary
• synonymdibble
• synonymdonut patrol
• synonymducks and geese
• synonymecilop
• neighborpolicy
• neighborpolis
• neighborpolitic
• neighborpolitical
• neighborpolitically
• neighborpolitician
• neighborpoliticisation
• neighborpoliticise
• neighborpoliticization
• neighborpoliticize
• neighborpolitics
• neighborpolity