Cop
/kɑːp/noun
A police officer.
The cop stopped the car for speeding.
Often appears as...
- cop car
- beat cop
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Informal Use
Used in casual conversation more than in formal reports or news broadcasts.
I saw a couple of cops at the diner.
Pro Tip 2/3Singular and Plural
'Cop' can refer to one or many police officers depending on the context.
A cop is patrolling the neighborhood.
Pro Tip 3/3Cultural Perception
The word can have different connotations depending on the country and cultural attitude towards police.
In some communities, calling police 'cops' might sound disrespectful.
Compare with
constabledetectivegendarmelawmanofficerpatrolsherifftrooper
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