noun
constable
KUHNS-tuh-buhl
noun
1
A police officer, especially one of the lowest rank in many Commonwealth police forces.
"The constable took a statement from the witness."
"She joined the force as a constable straight out of training."
2
A senior officer or castle warden in a medieval royal or noble household.
"The constable of the castle oversaw its defence."
3
An elected local official responsible for keeping order or serving legal documents, especially at parish or municipal level.
"The town constable served the eviction notice."
How to Use Constable
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA police officer, especially a junior one, or (historically) an official in charge of a castle or local order.
Common pairings
police constable
chief constable
special constable
Word Forms
constabled past tense, constables plural, Constables plural, constables singular
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Etymology
From Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabuli, literally "officer of the stables" — a title that gradually rose from stable-master to senior military and civic office.