police outpost

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "police outpost" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small station or facility where police officers are stationed to provide law enforcement services in a specific area. Example: "The remote village was served by a small police outpost that ensured the safety of its residents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

The Taliban attacked a police outpost in Maiwand District, killing three police officers.

The New York Times - Magazine

A concrete Myanmar police outpost, nestled in the trees, overlooks the camp.

The Guardian

He remembers playing in the abandoned British police outpost that is now the center of the I.D.F.

The New York Times - Magazine

The Taliban attacked a police outpost in the Maki area of Mizani District, killing three police officers.

The New York Times - Magazine

I sat around all night in this police outpost and eventually drove off with them shouting at me at about five in the morning.

Independent

Later he learns that the nearby police outpost has been overrun and all eight officers inside killed — by the hospitable and previously bumbling insurgents he had lived with.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

In August, Rohingya militants attacked police outposts in Rakhine.

Cornell University

They first attacked a school athletics gathering, slaughtering over 100 Japanese, and then raided police outposts.

The Economist

A newly installed telegraph machine connects headquarters to police outposts in the newly settled suburbs.

The New York Times - Arts

Poorly armed, they number up to 10,000 and mainly seem to rally larger numbers of Rakhine Muslims to attack military and police outposts with crude weapons.

Yale University

Volunteers deliver refreshments to the police outposts, he said, using funds and supplies contributed by community merchants.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "police outpost" when referring to a small, often remote, law enforcement facility. For larger facilities, consider "police station" or "police precinct".

Common error

Avoid using "police outpost" when referring to police stations in urban areas. The term typically implies a more isolated or temporary facility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "police outpost" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as a subject or object in a sentence to identify a specific type of law enforcement facility. As shown by Ludwig, the phrase denotes a physical location.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "police outpost" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that refers to a smaller, often remote, law enforcement facility. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across various contexts. The primary context is in News & Media. When writing, "police outpost" should be used to describe specifically those smaller facilities, whereas terms like "police station" are best for permanent and bigger facilities. Top authoritative sources include The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

police station

Refers to a larger, more permanent law enforcement facility.

police sub-station

A smaller branch of a main police station, often in a specific neighborhood.

police precinct

Denotes a specific district or area under the jurisdiction of a police force.

law enforcement facility

A general term for any building or area used for law enforcement purposes.

security post

Emphasizes the security aspect and may refer to a temporary or mobile location.

border post

A station located at a border for control and security.

checkpoint

A location where vehicles and people are stopped for inspection.

garrison

A military-established post to ensure law and order.

police presence

Highlights the active enforcement of laws by police in a region.

command post

A center for directing police operations during emergencies.

FAQs

What is the difference between a "police outpost" and a police station?

A "police outpost" is typically a smaller, more remote or temporary facility compared to a police station, which is usually a larger, permanent structure with more resources.

Where is the term "police outpost" most commonly used?

The term is frequently used in news and media when describing law enforcement facilities in conflict zones, rural areas, or developing countries.

Are there alternative phrases I can use instead of "police outpost"?

You can use alternatives like "police station", "police sub-station", or "law enforcement facility" depending on the specific context.

Is "police outpost" a formal or informal term?

It is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts, although it's more commonly found in news reports and descriptive writing.