What does policemen mean?
“Policemen” is the plural form of “policeman” and refers to male police officers or, in some contexts, to police officers collectively. It appears in ordinary news reporting, public-safety notices, and historical accounts of policing, often in phrases such as “armed policemen” or “policemen on patrol.” The word is straightforward, but modern usage increasingly favors “police officers” because that expression does not mark the gender of the people being described. “Cops” is the common informal alternative. Although “policemen” remains widely understood and accepted, “policemen” can sound old-fashioned or institutionally formal in some settings. The word is also closely associated with the history of police organizations and public authority, making it especially common in reporting about protests, crime scenes, and law-enforcement operations.
plural nounPlural form of policeman: male members of the police force or police officers generally. In modern usage, “policemen” is sometimes used collectively for police officers of any gender, though “police officers” is often preferred when gender is irrelevant.
- Male members of the police force, especially when considered as a group.
- Police officers in general, used in a gender-neutral collective sense in some modern contexts.
"The policemen quickly cleared the crowd while the investigation continued."
"Two policemen stood outside the station."
"The community called the policemen after hearing suspicious activity in the neighborhood."
The standard irregular plural of “policeman.” It is still widely used, though “police officers” is preferred in many contemporary contexts.
"Several policemen directed traffic near the school."
The word “policemen” is still familiar, but “police officers” is increasingly preferred because it can refer to officers of any gender.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does policemen come from?
The singular “policeman” combines the older word “police,” originally from French, with the English suffix “-man.” The word “police” entered English in the early 16th century and was associated with civic administration and governmental policy, drawing ultimately on Latin “politia,” meaning civic administration or statecraft. The plural “policemen” simply adds the regular English plural ending. Related words such as “policy,” “political,” and “polite” ultimately reflect the same broad Latin and Greek civic roots, though their modern meanings are not direct derivatives of this word.
Related word forms
How policemen is actually used
The term is common in British English and remains used in American English, but many speakers now prefer “police officers” or “police” when referring to people of all genders. Its use can sound formal or historical when contrasted with the informal “cops.”