peace officer

noun

: a civil officer (such as a police officer) whose duty it is to preserve the public peace

Examples of peace officer in a Sentence

He was arrested for assaulting a peace officer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The murder of a peace officer is eligible for the death penalty under California law. Todd Spitzer, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024 The jury could not reach a verdict on counts of battering a peace officer, removing an officer’s gun and resisting arrest. Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2024 If that fund exceeds $2 million, the Legislature could vote to spend the amount over $2 million on peace officer training, equipment and other benefits. Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Oct. 2024 That month, the state suspended his peace officer certification on grounds of unspecified criminal charges and unreasonable use of force. Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for peace officer 

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of peace officer was in 1649

Dictionary Entries Near peace officer

Cite this Entry

“Peace officer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peace%20officer. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

peace officer

noun
: a civil officer (as a police officer) whose duty it is to preserve the public peace

More from Merriam-Webster on peace officer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!