Word
constable
Phoneticscon·sta·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑnstəbəɫ/
UK/kˈɒnstəbəl/
Definitions
01police officer
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law British English
n. a police officer of the lowest rank in the UK and many other countries.
n. the lowest rank of police officer in the United Kingdom and most Commonwealth nations.
“The constable asked the driver to pull over to the side of the road.”
“After completing his initial training, he was sworn in as a police constable and assigned to the local precinct.”
02US local official
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law American English · Technical
n. a local officer in the US who helps the court by delivering legal papers.
n. a public officer in various US jurisdictions, typically responsible for serving writs and maintaining order at the municipal level.
“The local constable arrived at the house to deliver the court papers.”
“In this county, the elected constable is responsible for serving civil process and providing security for the justice of the peace.”
03historical official
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Formal
n. a high-ranking official in the Middle Ages, often in charge of a castle or an army.
n. a high-ranking official in a royal household or a military commander in the Middle Ages; also the warden of a royal castle.
“The Constable of the Tower was responsible for guarding the king's prisoners.”
“The King appointed a new Constable to oversee the northern fortifications and lead the cavalry into battle.”
Real-World Examples
“Police constables Matthew Blades and Tom Clough were among seven people killed after their marked police car collided with a Volkswagen Passat travelling the wrong way along the A66 in North Yorkshire.” “Andrew David Couchman, 54, and Ulrich Weiss, 45, both senior constables, were both charged over the incident at the Mareeba watch house in far north Queensland in January 2024.” Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/constable