patrol
B1Neutral, used in both formal (military, police, technical) and informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The act of moving around an area at regular times to ensure its security, or a person or group performing this action.
A regular, systematic walk or drive around a place or along a route to guard or supervise it; can also refer to a unit of soldiers, police, or scouts assigned to this task, or to the action of wandering or moving about more generally (e.g., "sharks patrol the reef").
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly associated with security, vigilance, and regularity. As a noun, it can be countable (a patrol) or uncountable (on patrol). The verb implies a continuous or repeated action over a period.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and certain collocations differ slightly. The noun 'patrolman' is more common in US English for a police officer on a beat; the role is more likely 'police constable on patrol' in UK English.
Connotations
Similar core connotations in both varieties. In US English, 'patrol' is frequently used in compound terms like 'patrol car', 'highway patrol'. In UK English, 'foot patrol' is a common collocation.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both varieties, with high usage in military, law enforcement, and security contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
patrol [AREA] (e.g., patrol the streets)patrol for [PURPOSE] (e.g., patrol for smugglers)be on patrolcarry out/do a patrol of [AREA]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “on patrol (actively performing patrol duties)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; possibly in security company contexts: 'Nightly patrols of the warehouse perimeter are mandatory.'
Academic
Used in history/political science regarding military strategy or colonial policing.
Everyday
Common: 'The police car is on patrol in our neighbourhood.' 'Parents took turns on bedtime patrol.' (humorous/extended)
Technical
Core term in military science, law enforcement, and security operations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Security guards patrol the factory grounds every hour.
- Royal Navy ships patrol the Channel to deter smuggling.
American English
- Officers patrol the downtown district on bicycles.
- The National Guard was called in to patrol the border.
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb; 'on patrol' functions adverbially) The soldiers moved patrol through the jungle.
American English
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb) The cop walked patrol along the beat.
adjective
British English
- The patrol vehicle was equipped with a tracking system.
- He served in a patrol regiment.
American English
- She drives a patrol car for the county sheriff.
- Patrol officers responded to the call.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A police car drives slowly on patrol.
- The guard makes a night patrol.
- The security company conducts regular patrols around the office building.
- During the war, soldiers patrolled the streets at night.
- Increased foot patrols in the city centre have led to a reduction in petty crime.
- The coastguard vessel was tasked with patrolling the territorial waters for illegal fishing activity.
- The efficacy of randomised, rather than scheduled, patrols is a topic of debate in modern criminology.
- Aerial drones are increasingly deployed to patrol remote border regions, supplementing ground units.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a POL(ice) TROL(ley) car driving around – a POL-TROL keeps an area safe.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECURITY IS VIGILANT CIRCULATION / A PROTECTIVE BARRIER IS A MOVING RING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'патруль' as always meaning 'a person'. In English, 'patrol' is primarily the activity or the group; an individual is a 'patrolman' or 'officer on patrol'.
- The verb 'to patrol' ('патрулировать') is directly cognate and used similarly.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He is a patrol.' (Correct: 'He is on patrol' or 'He is a patrolman/officer.')
- Incorrect article use: 'He is on a patrol.' (Possible but less common than 'on patrol' as a fixed phrase.)
Practice
Quiz
What is the most natural way to describe a single police officer performing this activity?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is commonly used as both a noun and a verb with roughly equal frequency, depending on context.
Yes, it is often used metaphorically. For example: 'Male lions patrol the boundaries of their territory.'
'Patrol' focuses on moving through an area to guard it or maintain presence. 'Inspect' focuses on looking at something closely to assess its condition or compliance.
Yes, 'on patrol' is a standard fixed phrase meaning 'engaged in the activity of patrolling'. It is more common than 'in patrol' or 'at patrol'.