# policeman

/pəˈɫismən/ (US) · /pəlˈiːsmən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/policeman
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. male officer

noun · CEFR A1

a man who is a member of the police force.

For teachers: a male member of a police force, responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing the law.

- The policeman helped the lost child find his parents in the park.
- The policeman directed traffic around the accident site while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

Usage: Often replaced by the gender-neutral 'police officer' in modern professional contexts.

Teaching tip: While still common, many people now prefer 'police officer' to avoid assuming the person's gender.

### 2. chemistry tool

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a glass rod with a rubber tip used in a science lab to scrape small amounts of solids.

For teachers: a glass stirring rod with a rubber scraper attached to one end, used in gravimetric analysis to remove precipitates from glassware.

- The student used a rubber policeman to scrape the last bit of powder into the filter.
- In the final step of the gravimetric analysis, the chemist used a rubber policeman to ensure all precipitate was transferred from the beaker.

Usage: Usually appears as the compound noun 'rubber policeman'.

## Examples

- The policeman helps the children cross the street safely.
- A policeman stood at the corner of the busy intersection to direct traffic after the lights failed.
- The local policeman became a familiar figure in the neighbourhood, building trust through daily patrols and consistent engagement with the small business owners on the high street.

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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.