patrolman
C1Formal, official, potentially dated.
Definition
Meaning
A police officer, typically of a lower rank, assigned to patrol a specific area.
A person employed to guard or inspect a particular area or route, such as a security guard or a maintenance worker for a utility company, who performs regular rounds.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is inherently gendered ('-man'), which makes it less common in modern, inclusive language where 'police officer' or 'patrol officer' is preferred. It strongly implies a duty of regular, ground-level surveillance or inspection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Extremely rare in contemporary British English, where 'police constable' (PC) or simply 'officer' is standard. It remains more recognisable in American English, though it is still a dated term for a uniformed police officer.
Connotations
In the UK, it may sound like an Americanism or a term from historical fiction. In the US, it can evoke a mid-20th-century policing style or specific, often municipal, police departments.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, but higher historical/recognisability in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Patrolman] + [verb] (e.g., The patrolman investigated)[Patrolman] + [prepositional phrase] (e.g., a patrolman from the 5th precinct)[Determiner] + [patrolman] + [relative clause] (e.g., the patrolman who reported the incident)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the beat (related concept, e.g., The patrolman walked his beat.)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical or sociological texts discussing police structures.
Everyday
Rare in contemporary casual conversation; might be used by older speakers or in specific communities.
Technical
Used in official job titles or historical documents within law enforcement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The patrolman helped us find our way.
- A police patrolman directed traffic after the accident.
- The veteran patrolman knew every alley and shortcut in his neighbourhood.
- Historically, the patrolman's role was as much about community liaison as it was about law enforcement.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a man PATROLLING the streets with a LANtern (sounds like 'man'). A patrolMAN with a lantern.
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A PRESENCE ON THE GROUND (The patrolman embodies authority through constant, visible movement in a community).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of патрульный as 'patrolman' in most modern contexts; 'patrol officer' or simply 'police officer' is better. 'Patrolman' specifies gender and can sound anachronistic.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a gender-neutral term.
- Assuming it is a current, standard job title in the UK.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'patrolman' most likely to be found today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is largely outdated. Most police forces now use gender-neutral titles like 'Police Officer' or 'Patrol Officer'.
Yes, though less commonly. It can refer to security personnel or maintenance workers who perform regular inspection rounds, but 'security guard' or 'inspector' are more typical.
The dated female equivalent was 'patrolwoman', but this term is also obsolete. 'Police officer' or 'patrol officer' is used for all genders.
The '-man' suffix is not inclusive and excludes women and non-binary people from the mental image of the role, which is why modern terminology has moved away from it.
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