policeman

Everyday

A policeman is a man who is a member of the police, the people whose job is to keep people safe and make sure laws are obeyed. tree →

In the lessons

In safety lessons children learn that a police officer is someone to go to if they are lost or in danger, and to call the emergency number (999 in the UK and Ireland, 911 in the USA and Canada, 000 in Australia, 111 in New Zealand). In stories a policeman catches thieves, helps people cross roads, or asks questions. Phrases: a friendly policeman, ask a policeman, the policeman on the corner.

Examples

• The policeman helped the old lady cross the road. tree →
• If you get lost, look for a policeman or police officer. tree →
• Two policemen came to talk to our class about safety. tree →
• The policeman wrote down what the boy had seen. tree →
• My uncle is a policeman in Dublin. tree →
• A policeman on a horse rode through the park. tree →
• "What's the matter, old man?" asked a sympathizing policeman. tree →

Note

Plural: policemen (not «policemans»). A woman is a «policewoman», and the general word for anyone is «police officer». «The police» is plural: «The police are coming». Pronounce the plural -men the same as -man in fast speech, but spell it with e.