policeman

noun

po·​lice·​man pə-ˈlēs-mən 

1

: a member of a police force

2

: one held to resemble a policeman

making the United States the policeman for the whole wide world

—R. B. Long

Synonyms

• bobby [British]
• bull [slang]
• constable [chiefly British]
• cop
• copper
• flatfoot [slang]
• fuzz
• gendarme
• lawman
• officer
• police officer
• shamus [slang]

Examples of policeman in a Sentence

reported the crime to the nearest policeman

Recent Examples on the Web

The actress appears alongside Willem Dafoe, Joe Alwyn, Jesse Plemons, Margaret Qualley, Hunter Schafer and Hong Chau in the triptych fable, which follows a man attempting to control his life, a policeman whose missing wife has returned, and a woman searching for someone with a special ability. —Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 18 May 2024

Why Roger Corman Was One of the Most Influential Figures in Movie History Part Two watches Daniel (Plemons), a policeman who patrols with his best friend Neil (Athie) and is nervously awaiting word on his M.I.A. wife, Liz (Stone). —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

policeman

noun

po·​lice·​man pə-ˈlē-smən 

: police officer

Medical Definition

policeman

noun

po·​lice·​man pə-ˈlēs-mən 

plural policemen -mən 

: an instrument (as a flat piece of rubber on a glass rod) for removing solids from a vessel (as a beaker)