police/pɔ.lis/
noun · A1/A2 · Frequency 353
nounfeminine
Meanings
police (institution or organization)
Refers to the police as an institution or organization.
cop (police officer)
Refers to an individual police officer, commonly used in informal speech.
public order, law enforcement
Refers to the state of public order or the maintenance of public safety by the police.
Examples
La police a ouvert une enquête après le cambriolage.
The police opened an investigation after the burglary.
La police est arrivée rapidement sur les lieux de l'accident.
The police arrived quickly at the scene of the accident.
La police demande aux témoins de se manifester.
The police are asking witnesses to come forward.
Collocations
- la police nationalenational police
- un agent de policepolice officer
Common mistakes
La police sont sur place.
La police est sur place.
When police refers to the institution, the lemma police is a feminine singular noun and normally takes a singular verb, unlike English police.
Related words
synonymgendarmeriegendarmerie
synonymfliccop (informal)
antonymcriminelcriminal
nounfeminine
Meanings
police, law enforcement agency
Refers to the official organization responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing laws; a common and primary meaning.
font, typeface
Refers to the style of printed or digital text characters; a technical term.
Examples
La police a sécurisé la rue après l'accident.
The police secured the street after the accident.
La police recherche un témoin qui a quitté les lieux avant son arrivée.
The police are looking for a witness who left the scene before they arrived.
La banque a envoyé la police d'assurance avec les documents du prêt.
The bank sent the insurance policy with the loan documents.
Collocations
- la police nationalenational police
Common mistakes
La police de l'entreprise prévoit trois semaines de congés.
La politique de l'entreprise prévoit trois semaines de congés.
The French word police is not the general equivalent of English policy; police refers mainly to the police, a police force, or a typeface, while “policy” is usually politique.
Related words
synonympolice d’écrituretypeface, font