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¹police

verb po·lice \pə-ˈlēs\

: to control and keep order in (an area) by the use of police or military forces

: to control (something) by making sure that rules and regulations are being followed

po·licedpo·lic·ing

Full Definition of POLICE

transitive verb

archaic : govern

: to control, regulate, or keep in order by use of police

: to make clean and put in order

a : to supervise the operation, execution, or administration of to prevent or detect and prosecute violations of rules and regulations

b : to exercise such supervision over the policies and activities of

: to perform the functions of a police force in or over

See police defined for English-language learners

See police defined for kids

Origin of POLICE

in sense 1, from Middle French policier, from police conduct of public affairs; in other senses, from ²police

First Known Use: 1589

Rhymes with POLICE

apiece, at peace, Burmese, camise, caprice, cassis, cerise, chemise, Chinese, Cochise, codpiece, coulisse, crosspiece, decease, decrease, degrease, Dumfries, earpiece, eyepiece, fieldpiece, grandniece, hairpiece, headpiece, heelpiece, increase, lend-lease, Maltese, Matisse, Maurice, mouthpiece, nosepiece, obese, one-piece, pastis, pelisse, re-lease, release, seapiece, set piece, shankpiece, showpiece, sidepiece, stringpiece, sublease, surcease, tailpiece, think piece, timepiece, toepiece, three-piece, two-piece, valise, wool grease, workpiece

²police

noun, often attributive

: the people or the department of people who enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests

plural police

Full Definition of POLICE

a : the internal organization or regulation of a political unit through exercise of governmental powers especially with respect to general comfort, health, morals, safety, or prosperity

b : control and regulation of affairs affecting the general order and welfare of any unit or area

c : the system of laws for effecting such control

a : the department of government concerned primarily with maintenance of public order, safety, and health and enforcement of laws and possessing executive, judicial, and legislative powers

b : the department of government charged with prevention, detection, and prosecution of public nuisances and crimes

a : police force

b plural : police officers

a : a private organization resembling a police force <campus police>

b plural : the members of a private police organization

a : the action or process of cleaning and putting in order

b : military personnel detailed to perform this function

: one attempting to regulate or censor a specified field or activity <the fashion police>

See police defined for English-language learners

Origin of POLICE

French, from Old French, from Late Latin politia government, administration, from Greek politeia, from politēs citizen, from polis city, state; akin to Sanskrit pur rampart, Lithuanian pilis castle

First Known Use: 1716

Related to POLICE

Synonyms: law

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

POLICE Defined for Kids

¹police

verb po·lice \pə-ˈlēs\

po·licedpo·lic·ing

Definition of POLICE for Kids

: to keep order in or among <Officers police the city.>

²police

noun

plural police

Definition of POLICE for Kids

: the department of government that keeps order and enforces law, investigates crimes, and makes arrests

police plural : members of a police force

Word Root of POLICE

The Greek word polis, meaning “city” or “community,” and the related word polītēs, meaning “citizen,” give us the roots polis and polit. Words from Greek polis and polītēs have something to do with cities or communities or the citizens who live in them. A metropolis is the most important city in an area. The police are a group that enforces the law so as to protect citizens. Politics is the science and art of governing citizens.