Definition

1. Noun:
   • A law officer: An individual who holds a position of authority within the legal system, empowered to enforce laws, maintain public order, and ensure the safety of the community. This term broadly refers to officials such as police officers, sheriffs, and other agents of law enforcement agencies.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The law officer approached the vehicle to check the driver's license.
  • Every law officer in the county attended the safety briefing.
  • She decided to become a law officer to serve and protect her community.

Advanced Usage

• "sworn law officer": An officer who has taken an official oath to uphold the law.
  • As a sworn law officer, he was obligated to intervene.
• "federal law officer": An officer who enforces laws at the national level.
  • The investigation was led by a federal law officer from the FBI.

Variants and Related Words

• Law enforcement officer: A more specific and common synonym.
  • The suspect was apprehended by a law enforcement officer.
• Peace officer: A term often used interchangeably, especially in legal statutes.
  • The statute defines a sheriff as a peace officer.

Synonyms

• Police officer: A member of a police force.
• Constable: A peace officer with limited jurisdiction.
• Sheriff: An elected officer in a county who is responsible for keeping the peace.

Related Phrases

• "Officer of the law": A formal phrase with identical meaning to "law officer".
  • You must comply with the instructions of an officer of the law.

Related Idioms

• "To uphold the law": To maintain and support the law, a primary duty of a law officer.
  • His primary duty was to uphold the law.

Noun

1. an officer of the law