# police officer

CEFR A2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/police-officer
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

A person who works for the police. Their job is to make sure people follow the law and to help keep the community safe.

For teachers: A sworn member of a police force, granted specific legal powers to enforce laws and maintain public order.

## Examples

- A police officer directs traffic at the intersection.
- The police officer took a statement from the witness after the accident.
- In her testimony, the veteran police officer detailed the complex chain of events leading to the arrest.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I asked a police for directions." but "I asked a police officer for directions." — 'Police' refers to the entire force or a group; an individual member is a 'police officer'.

## Usage notes

- This is a gender-neutral term, often preferred over 'policeman' or 'policewoman'.
- Teaching tip: Note the compound noun stress pattern: the primary stress falls on 'POlice', not 'officer'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.