interpol
B2Formal, Technical
Definition
Meaning
The International Criminal Police Organization, a global network facilitating police cooperation across international borders.
In mathematics or computing: a rare, technical verb meaning to estimate unknown values between two known data points.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a proper noun referring to the organization. The technical verb form 'to interpol' is very rare and largely superseded by 'to interpolate'. As a proper noun, it is always capitalised.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or meaning. The organization's name is the same globally.
Connotations
Carries connotations of international law enforcement, global cooperation, and crime-fighting. It is generally viewed neutrally or positively as an official institution.
Frequency
The term has similar frequency in UK and US media, especially in news related to crime, security, and international affairs.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N/A as a proper noun. As a rare verb: interpol [value] between [data points].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Red Notice (specific type of Interpol alert)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Very rare. May appear in risk assessment reports regarding international fraud or cybercrime.
Academic
Used in criminology, international relations, and political science texts discussing transnational law enforcement.
Everyday
Appears in news reports about international crime, fugitives, or police cooperation.
Technical
In data science or mathematics, the verb 'interpolate' is standard; 'interpol' as a verb is archaic.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The software can interpol the missing pixel data.
- We need to interpol a value for the year 1995.
American English
- The algorithm will interpol the intermediate temperatures.
- You can interpol the sales figures for Q3.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Interpol helps police in different countries.
- I saw Interpol on the news.
- The suspect was arrested after Interpol issued a notice.
- Police shared the information through Interpol.
- Interpol's headquarters are based in Lyon, France.
- A Red Notice from Interpol alerts member countries to locate a wanted person.
- The intricate financial fraud case required extensive coordination with Interpol's financial crime unit.
- Critics argue that Interpol's notice system can be subject to political misuse by member states.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: INTERnational POLice working together to catch criminals across the globe.
Conceptual Metaphor
A global web or network connecting police forces.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'интерполяция' (interpolation, a mathematical term).
- The word is a direct borrowing; the Russian equivalent is 'Интерпол'.
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase ('interpol').
- Using it as a common noun for any international police officer (e.g., 'He is an Interpol').
- Confusing it with Europol (the EU's law enforcement agency).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of Interpol?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Interpol itself has no arresting powers. It facilitates communication and cooperation between the police forces of its member countries, who make arrests within their own jurisdictions.
A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is not an international arrest warrant.
No, Interpol is an independent international organization, though it has a special cooperation agreement with the UN.
Interpol is a global organization with 195 member countries. Europol is the law enforcement agency of the European Union and is focused specifically on EU member states and their priorities.