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

Synonyms of police force

• police
• constabulary

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

Without progress on either Hamas’s disarmament or Israel’s withdrawal, the Palestinian governing committee (currently marooned in Cairo) and police force cannot enter Gaza; neither can any international force. — Khaled Elgindy, Foreign Affairs, 8 Oct. 2026

The original audit revealed that the airport was paying more to contract law enforcement services than peer airports and recommended the county create its own police force. — Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

With the Taliban in control of Afghanistan and the court having no police force to execute warrants, the prospect of any of the suspects being arrested is remote. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is taking legal action against the police force that arrested him earlier this year. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1820, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for police force

• bourse
• coarse
• course
• gorse
• hoarse
• horse
• norse
• source
• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce

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