police

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The official organization, and its members, whose job is to keep order, prevent crime, and make sure people obey the law.

   Someone called the police after the robbery.

2. 2
   verb

   To keep order and control in a place or group.

   Extra security was hired to police the crowd at the big game.

3. 3
   verb

   To make sure that rules or standards are followed.

   It is hard to police what people post online.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Police entered English in the 15th century from medieval Latin politia “citizenship, government,” itself borrowed from Greek polis “city, state.” It was initially another form of policy, then came to mean civil administration and eventually the maintenance of public order; its modern institutional sense was established by the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

From Middle French police, from Latin polītīa (“state, government”), from Ancient Greek πολιτεία (politeía). Doublet of policy, polis (“police”), and polity.

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary