What does "constable" mean?
One holding the lowest rank in most Commonwealth police forces. (See also chief constable.)
Constable
/ˈkʌnstəbəl/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One holding the lowest rank in most Commonwealth police forces. (See also chief constable.)
- Grammar: constable is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: police officer, auxiliary officer, bailiff, beadle.
- Useful contrasts: civilian, criminal, felon.
- Usage evidence: The police constable arrested the teenager for shoplifting.
How to use "constable"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "constable" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "constable" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "constable" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "constable" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "constable" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "police officer" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "constable", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One holding the lowest rank in most Commonwealth police forces. (See also chief constable.)
"As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and he stripped off his tunic at once."
- 2 a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff wordnet
- 3 A police officer or an officer with equivalent powers. UK
- 4 a police officer of the lowest rank wordnet
- 5 An officer of a noble court in the Middle Ages, usually a senior army commander. (See also marshal). historical
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 The warden of a castle.
- 7 An elected or appointed public officer, usually at municipal level, responsible for maintaining order or serving writs and court orders. US
- 8 An elected head of a parish (also known as a connétable)
- 9 A large butterfly, Dichorragia nesimachus, family Nymphalidae, of Asia.
Verb
- 1 To act as a constable or policeman. dated, intransitive
Proper Noun
- 1 An English surname originating as an occupation from Old French conestable (“constable”).
- 2 A town in Franklin County, New York; named for landowner William Constable.
- 3 John Constable, English painter.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The police constable arrested the teenager for shoplifting."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "constable"?
Common synonyms include: police officer, auxiliary officer, bailiff, beadle, beagle, bluecoat.
How do you use "constable" in a sentence?
The police constable arrested the teenager for shoplifting.
How do you pronounce "constable"?
Pronounced /ˈkʌnstəbəl/.
Etymology
From Middle English constable, cunstable, constabil, connestable, cunestable, from Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabulī (“officer of the stables”). For the sense-development; compare marshal. Doublet of connétable.