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law officer

law officer

5 2.2
A person who makes sure people follow the law, like a police officer or sheriff
  • noun
  • /lɔː ˈɔfɪsər/
translation icon : agente de la ley
  • During the seminar, several law officers explained their roles in maintaining public order.
  • local law officer
  • federal law officer
  • state law officers

Call your call your law officers and your lawyers right now.

Examples

  • The sheriff is a dedicated law officer who ensures the safety of the community.

  • Law officers are a vital part of your legal procedures.

    Blog text (7)
  • That man was a law officer.

  • Are you a law officer?

  • Special discount for law officers.

  • What kind of law officer are you if you don't have respect for the law?

  • I'm a law officer.

  • The divorce itself will be finalized in law within 48 hours, rubber-stamped by a law officer at the police station.

    Blog text (19)
  • There'll be slave catchers and law officers all over this old tub looking for runaways.

  • As a law officer, her main responsibility is to uphold the law and protect citizens.

Synonyms

cop
vslaw officer
  • Informal
6.3

A person who works for the police

is the neutral, formal job description rather than slang
detective
vslaw officer
2.7

A police officer who investigates crimes and finds out what happened

is the broader enforcement job rather than an investigative specialist
officer
vslaw officer
1.2

A person who works for the police and enforces the law

is broader, covering any official whose job is to enforce laws
sheriff
vslaw officer
  • US
3.9

A county officer who enforces the law, keeps the peace, and carries out court orders

is the general employment category rather than a specific county leader
police officer
vslaw officer
560 1.1

A person who keeps people safe and stops crime

includes that role but also other official law enforcers beyond this force
policeman
vslaw officer
303 1.0

A man whose job is to keep people safe and enforce laws

is the neutral job label covering all genders who enforce laws
constable
vslaw officer
  • UK
99 4.1

A police officer of low rank who works in local communities

is the general category rather than a lower ranked local role
police chief
vslaw officer
93 3.2

An officer who is in charge of a police department

is the general enforcer job, not the top departmental leader
marshal
vslaw officer
  • Formal
77 6.7

An official who makes sure people follow court orders

covers enforcement work generally, not only court duties
bailiff
vslaw officer
  • Specialized
53 7.2

A court officer who delivers legal papers and keeps order in court

is a wider enforcement job not limited to court tasks
federal official
vslaw officer
  • US
32 3.7

A government worker who makes sure people follow national laws, often in the United States

is the general term that includes both local and national enforcers
lawman
vslaw officer
  • US
28 6.5

A man who works to enforce the law, like a sheriff or police officer

is the general modern job term rather than a historical label
patrolman
vslaw officer
  • US
28 4.2

A police officer who walks around an area to keep people safe

is the overall job category beyond a single patrolling role
police commissioner
vslaw officer
27 4.6

A senior officer in charge of a city's police force

is the general category rather than the appointed organisational head
deputy sheriff
vslaw officer
  • US
11 3.4

A law officer who helps the sheriff and acts for them when the sheriff is away

is the overall job category rather than a deputy role
enforcer
vslaw officer
10 4.3

A person who makes sure people follow rules or laws

is an officially appointed public position with legal authority
peace officer
vslaw officer
  • Formal
9 3.5

A person who has legal power to make people follow the law, like a police officer or sheriff

is the broad job category covering anyone who enforces the law
traffic cop
vslaw officer
  • US
6 2.4

A police officer who directs cars and people at busy intersections

is a general enforcement role not limited to traffic duties
police sergeant
vslaw officer
6 3.1

A police officer in charge of other officers

is the base job role rather than a supervisory position
military police officer
vslaw officer
1 4.1

A member of the armed forces who enforces rules, keeps soldiers in order and guards prisoners

is a civilian-focused label rather than a military-specific role
lawwoman
vslaw officer
6.4

A woman who is a police officer and enforces the law

is the neutral job label covering enforcers of the law

How Senior

police chief
93 3.2
sergeant
422 3.9
law officer
5 2.2
police officer
560 1.1

Surface Forms

law officer singular
law officers plural

Morphology

law + officer

The meaning is directly compositionally derived from 'law' (rules/statutes) + 'officer' (an official/agent), yielding an official who enforces the law. This noun+noun compositional pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Law officer joins law and officer: an officer is someone with an official job, and law are the rules they protect. Picture a person in uniform with a badge whose job is to make sure people follow the rules; that's why 'law officer' means 'a person who enforces the law'.