noun
policeman
A male police officer.
A policeman helps a lost child find her parents.
Etymology
Policeman joins police with man. The compound identifies a male member of the organization charged with maintaining public order and enforcing the law.
More examples
- She asks a policeman for directions to the station.
- Two policemen direct traffic around the fallen tree.
- The policeman takes notes while the witness describes the robbery.
Forms
policeman · policemen
Similar words
- police officer
- Refers to someone in this role without specifying gender.
- cop
- An informal term for a police officer of any gender.