noun

constabulary

kuhn-STAB-yuu-luh-ree

noun

A police force, especially one organized on a regional or national basis.

"The county constabulary was called in to investigate the robbery."

"He served thirty years in the local constabulary before retiring."

adj

Relating to constables or policing.

"The town created a new constabulary district after the merger."

How to Use Constabulary

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA somewhat formal or old-fashioned word for a police force.

When to use it

Mostly heard in British English, often in a slightly formal or historical context.

Common pairings

the local constabulary a constabulary force join the constabulary

constabularies plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The county _____ was called in to investigate the robbery.

From medieval Latin conestabularia, going back to comes stabuli, literally "keeper of the stables" — the same root that gives us "constable."

constabular

vary Mary nary wary Gary Cary diary ovary weary scary teary deary

constabular