Word
posse
US/ˈpɑsi/
UK/pˈɒsi/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a group of friends who spend a lot of time together. It can also mean a group of people who are helping a leader or a police officer.
n. a group of people who accompany a person, often for protection or social status; historically, a body of men summoned by a sheriff to assist in law enforcement.
Examples
“He arrived at the party with his whole posse.”
“The pop star never travels alone, usually surrounded by a posse of bodyguards and assistants.”
Examples
simple
“He arrived at the party with his whole posse.”
contextual
“The pop star never travels alone, usually surrounded by a posse of bodyguards and assistants.”
Usage
Often used with a possessive pronoun ('my posse', 'his posse') to indicate a personal social group.
Real-World Examples
“Georgia and her posse strode towards us across the playground, observers turning to stare.” “A posse of directors, including Michael Powell, bring Alexander Korda’s Arabian Nights fantasy to the screen.” Etymology
Ellipsis of posse comitatus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/posse