Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female police officer: A woman who is a member of a police force, responsible for enforcing the law, maintaining order, and preventing and detecting crime. Historically, the term often referred to a woman assigned to duties involving women and children.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The police matron was called to the station to assist with the female suspect.
  • In the early 20th century, a police matron's duties often included supervising women in custody.

Advanced Usage

• The term "police matron" is somewhat dated. In modern contexts, "police officer" is the standard, gender-neutral term. "Police matron" may appear in historical or legal documents.
  • The historical records noted the appointment of the city's first police matron in 1893.

Variants and Related Words

• Matron: A married woman or a woman in a position of authority, especially in an institution like a school or hospital. The term "police matron" derives from this.
• Policewoman: A more modern, though now also less common, term for a female police officer.
• Officer: The standard, professional term for any member of a police force.

Synonyms

• Police officer
• Law enforcement officer
• Constable (in some jurisdictions)

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically denotes a woman serving as a police officer. Its historical usage sometimes implied a role focused on the care and supervision of women, juveniles, or lost children, distinct from general patrol duties. Today, female officers perform the full range of police work.

Noun

1. a woman policeman