Word
patrolman
Phoneticspa·trol·man, stress on the second syllable
US/pəˈtɹoʊɫˌmæn/
UK/pɐtɹˈəʊlmən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a police officer who walks or drives around an area to keep it safe, especially in the US.
n. a uniformed police officer assigned to patrol a designated area, typically on foot or in a vehicle. Chiefly American usage; the gender-neutral 'patrol officer' is now preferred in official contexts.
Examples
“The patrolman walks through the park every evening.”
“The patrolman stopped his car to help the lost tourists find their hotel.”
“The aging patrolman knew every shopkeeper on his beat, noticing small changes that a newcomer would miss entirely.”
Examples
simple
“The patrolman walks through the park every evening.”
contextual
“The patrolman stopped his car to help the lost tourists find their hotel.”
complex
“The aging patrolman knew every shopkeeper on his beat, noticing small changes that a newcomer would miss entirely.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “patrolman” in context.
Verb
01. assault patrolman
“The driver assaulted the patrolman who tried to arrest him.”
verb + noun
02. flag down patrolman
“We flagged down a patrolman to report the stolen bike.”
verb + prep + noun
03. patrolman arrests
“The patrolman arrested the suspect outside the bank.”
noun + verb
04. patrolman directs
“The patrolman directed traffic around the accident site.”
noun + verb
05. patrolman patrols
“The patrolman patrols the neighborhood every night on foot.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. local patrolman
“The local patrolman warned shops about recent break-ins.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. city patrolman
“A city patrolman walks this beat every afternoon.”
noun + noun
08. highway patrolman
“The highway patrolman pulled over a truck for speeding.”
noun + noun
09. a patrolman directs traffic
“A patrolman directs traffic while the lights are out.”
10. a patrolman stops a driver
“A patrolman stops a driver for running a red light.”
11. a veteran highway patrolman
“A veteran highway patrolman helped us change the flat tire.”
12. flag down a patrolman
“I flagged down a patrolman when I saw the broken window.”
Usage
Plural is patrolmen; gender-neutral 'patrol officer' is preferred in formal use.
Etymology
From patrol + -man.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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