noun
cop
KAHP/kɑːp/
A police officer.
The uniformed cop stands on the sidewalk with a radio at his shoulder.
Etymology
Cop is shortened from copper, probably a name for someone who captures or arrests people. The informal name thus likely identifies an officer by the act of catching suspects.
In context
if a cop roughs you up during an arrest basically you could have talked back you could have done any number of things you you ticked off the cop and he roughs you up
More examples
- Two cops help the lost child find her parents.
- He asks a nearby cop for directions.
- The cop writes a report after speaking to the witnesses.
Forms
cop · cops
Similar words
- police officer
- The neutral, formal term.
- officer
- Officer is a neutral professional term; cop is informal.