# policing

/pəˈɫisɪŋ/ (US) · /pəlˈiːsɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. police work

noun · CEFR B2

the way the police keep order and protect people in a specific area.

For teachers: the maintenance of law and order by a police force, including patrolling and crime prevention.

- The city has seen a change in policing since the new chief was hired.
- Community-based policing focuses on building trust between officers and local residents to prevent crime before it occurs.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when discussing the general practice or style of law enforcement.

### 2. monitoring or regulation

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the act of checking that people are following rules in a certain place or group.

For teachers: the regulation or monitoring of a particular activity, industry, or social space to ensure compliance with rules.

- The policing of social media comments is a difficult task for many companies.
- Effective policing of the new environmental regulations requires frequent inspections and heavy fines for non-compliance.

Usage: Frequently used in academic or professional contexts regarding the enforcement of standards.

## Examples

- The city is trying a new style of community policing.
- Effective policing requires a strong relationship between the officers and the local residents they serve.
- The committee discussed whether the policing of online forums should be handled by automated algorithms or by human moderators to ensure a fair balance of safety and free speech.

---

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.