Definition

1. Noun:

   • A civil force responsible for maintaining public order and safety, enforcing laws, and preventing and detecting crime: The "police" refers to the organized body of officers empowered by the state to enforce the law, protect property, and limit civil disorder.
   • (Used with a plural verb) The members of such a force: "Police" can also refer to the individual officers collectively.

2. Verb:

   • To control, regulate, or keep order in (a place or event) using the police or a similar authority: This involves maintaining security and enforcing rules.
   • To make (something, especially an area or activity) orderly and compliant with rules: This broader sense means to supervise and ensure proper conduct.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The police arrived quickly at the scene of the accident.
  • Local police are investigating the robbery.
  • He decided to call the police.

• Verb:

  • The stadium was heavily policed during the championship game.
  • The government pledged to police the new regulations effectively.
  • It is difficult to police such a vast border region.

Advanced Usage

• "to police oneself": To regulate one's own behavior or the behavior of one's own group according to accepted standards.

  • The industry has promised to police itself to avoid government intervention.

• "community policing": A strategy of policing that focuses on building ties and working closely with members of the community.

  • The new chief implemented a community policing model.

Variants and Related Words

• Policeman/Policewoman (n): A male or female member of a police force. (Note: "Police officer" is now more common as a gender-neutral term).
• Policing (n): The activity of controlling and maintaining order, especially by a police force.
  • The policing of major events requires careful planning.
• Police force (n): The police organization of a particular country or area.

Synonyms

• Law enforcement (n): The generic term for agencies and personnel responsible for enforcing laws.
• Constabulary (n): A formal word for a police force, especially in specific regions.
• Patrol (v): As a verb, to keep watch over an area, which is a key police function.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Police up (v): (Informal, military/police jargon) To clean up an area, to remove debris or unwanted items.
  • After the demonstration, the crew was sent to police up the park.

Related Idioms

• Police state: A country where the government uses the police, especially a secret police, to strictly control people's lives and limit their freedom.

  • Critics accused the regime of creating a police state.

• To run a tight ship: (Not directly about police) An idiom meaning to manage something in a very strict and orderly way, similar to the verb sense of "to police."

  • The new manager polices the office like she's running a tight ship.

Noun

1. the force of policemen and officers
   • the law came looking for him

Verb

1. maintain the security of by carrying out a patrol