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US Marshals Service

US Marshals Service

3.7
A United States government group that protects judges and witnesses and arrests or moves prisoners
  • proper noun
  • /ˌjuːˈɛs ˈmɑːrʃəlz ˈsɜːrvɪs/
translation icon : Servicio de Alguaciles de los EE. UU.
  • Can you believe the US Marshals Service is over 200 years old?

Examples

  • The US Marshals Service apprehended a fugitive last night.

  • Members of the US Marshals Service are often responsible for transporting high-risk federal prisoners.

  • The US Marshals Service played a crucial role in apprehending the escaped convict.

  • The US Marshals Service works closely with other agencies to protect federal judges and witnesses.

  • The US Marshals Service is responsible for protecting federal witnesses in high-risk cases.

  • In a recent operation, the US Marshals Service apprehended a fugitive wanted for serious crimes.

  • The US Marshals Service plays a crucial role in transporting federal prisoners safely between facilities.

Synonyms

Marshals
vsUS Marshals Service
  • US
26 7.2

People who work for a federal law agency and protect judges, move prisoners, and guard witnesses

is the institutional agency responsible for those duties rather than individual officers
United States Marshals Service
vsUS Marshals Service
5.3

A US government agency that protects judges, moves federal prisoners, guards witnesses, and manages property taken from criminals

is the abbreviated form used for the same agency

Surface Forms

Morphology

US + Marshals + service

A learner who knows 'US' (United States), 'Marshals' (officers) and 'service' (an organization) can infer this refers to a United States organization of marshals — in other words a law-enforcement body. However, the specific institutional status and detailed duties (oldest federal agency; protecting the judiciary, transporting prisoners, managing seized assets, etc.) are specialized and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so full meaning requires prior exposure.

Etymology

The US Marshals Service began as federal marshals who rode across new areas to keep order, carry court papers, and catch criminals. That's why today the US Marshals Service still 'protects' judges, 'moves' federal prisoners, and finds fugitives.