# posse

/ˈpɑsi/ (US) · /pˈɒsi/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/posse
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often used with a possessive pronoun ('my posse', 'his posse') to indicate a personal social group.

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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.