police

Definitions

1. noun

   The official group that keeps order and fights crime.

   Examples

   • The police arrived within five minutes.
   • The police investigate crime and the lawyers prosecute it.
2. noun

   The local city force that enforces the law.

   Examples

   • The city police handle most local crime.
   • He works for the county police.
3. noun

   A regional police force that covers a set area.

   Examples

   • The regional police work with local forces on big cases.
   • Scotland Yard is the police force for London.
4. noun

   Any official police agency at any level.

   Examples

   • Several police forces worked on the investigation.
   • State and federal police worked together on the case.
5. noun

   A single police officer, in some regional speech.

   Examples

   • I am just a police, doing my job.
   • A murder police gets some hard calls.
6. noun

   People who try to enforce rules or taste in daily life.

   Examples

   • Who called the fashion police?
   • The grammar police always correct my emails.
7. noun

   In the military, a duty to clean up the base.

   Examples

   • Recruits were put on police duty after breakfast.
   • He spent the morning on police, cleaning around the barracks.
8. noun

   In old use, the good order and running of a society.

   Examples

   • Old writers saw police as a force for civilized progress.
   • They used police to mean a well run society.
   ≈administration
9. noun

   In old use, a spelling of policy.

   Examples

   • The company changed its police on remote work.
   • Read the fine print of the insurance police.
10. noun

    In old use, a regulated society or state.

    Examples

    • Ancient writers described the police of early Athens.
    • The philosopher wrote about the ideal police of a just society.