police force

USAGE SUMMARY

"police force" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a group of people within a police department who are responsible for carrying out certain duties and responsibilities. For example: "The police force worked diligently to bring the perpetrator to justice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She has a police force.

Independent

The police force is leaderless.

The New Yorker

They man the police force.

The Economist

"We are not a police force".

The Economist

Our police force is one such instance.

Independent

Speaks of the U. N. police force.

The New Yorker

BERLIN — Is Germany's police force racist?

The New York Times

The Irish joined the police force.

The New Yorker

Mexico lacks a national police force.

The Economist

Assume the police force is corrupt.

The New York Times

The Ministry of Internal Affairs oversees the regular police force.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about the "police force", be specific about the jurisdiction if relevant (e.g., "the New York City police force"). This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "police force" as a blanket term for all law enforcement agencies globally. Different countries and regions have unique structures and names for their police organizations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "police force" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It refers to an organized body of police officers responsible for maintaining law and order. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "police force" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an organized body responsible for law enforcement. Ludwig AI's analysis, supported by numerous examples from reputable sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, indicates that the phrase is most frequently used in News & Media and Encyclopedia contexts. While alternatives like "law enforcement agency" or "police department" exist, understanding the specific context is key to choosing the most appropriate term. Remember to specify the jurisdiction when relevant to enhance clarity and avoid overgeneralization.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

police department

Highlights the organizational structure and administrative aspect of the police.

police service

Emphasizes the function as a public service.

law enforcement agency

Focuses on the agency responsible for enforcing laws, rather than the collective body of officers.

constabulary

A more formal or archaic term for a police force, often implying a regional or national organization.

law enforcement officers

Focuses on the individual officers rather than the group as a whole.

peacekeeping force

Emphasizes the role of maintaining peace and order, which may or may not be strictly law enforcement.

local constables

Specifies the local nature and the individual officers.

security personnel

A broader term that can include private security as well as police.

guardians of the law

A metaphorical expression highlighting the protective role of the police.

the rozzers

A slang term for the police force, primarily British English.

FAQs

How can I use "police force" in a sentence?

You can use "police force" to refer to a group of police officers, as in "The local "police force" is investigating the crime scene".

What are some alternatives to "police force"?

Depending on the context, you might use "law enforcement agency", "constabulary", or "police department" as alternatives to "police force".

Is it correct to say "police forces" instead of "police force"?

Yes, "police forces" is correct when referring to multiple, distinct police organizations. For example, "The cooperation between different "police forces" was crucial in solving the case".

What is the difference between "police force" and "police department"?

"Police force" generally refers to the personnel or operational aspect, while "police department" refers to the administrative organization. You might say "The "police force" is under the command of the "police department"".