1
a
: the action of traversing a district or beat or of going the rounds along a chain of guards for observation or the maintenance of security
b
: the person performing such an action
c
: a unit of persons or vehicles employed for reconnaissance, security, or combat
2
: a subdivision of a Boy Scout troop or Girl Scout troop
patrolled; patrolling
: to carry out a patrol
: to carry out a patrol of
patroller
noun
Examples of patrol in a Sentence
Noun
The guard makes a patrol of the building every hour.
Soldiers are on patrol along the border.
Army patrols combed the area.
Verb
The squad had orders to patrol the area.
The border is patrolled by the army.
Recent Examples on the Web
Serena Lin, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The pursuit wound its way through crowded streets in the middle of the afternoon
According to the complaint, a uniformed patrol officer spotted the Chevrolet Trax near North 17th Street and West Vliet Avenue around 2:30 p.m. June 20.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Nov. 2024
Every day, Pima County wastewater workers patrol the huge empty concrete tanks and processing plants, now vulnerable to vandalism, trespassing and copper wire theft.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for patrol 
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Noun
At that point, the department planned to test the pilot during two patrol shifts.
—Serena Lin, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The pursuit wound its way through crowded streets in the middle of the afternoon
According to the complaint, a uniformed patrol officer spotted the Chevrolet Trax near North 17th Street and West Vliet Avenue around 2:30 p.m. June 20.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
In that investigation, officers working special assignment patrolling downtown June 1 heard gunshots in the early morning hours.
—Jade Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 15 Nov. 2024
Every day, Pima County wastewater workers patrol the huge empty concrete tanks and processing plants, now vulnerable to vandalism, trespassing and copper wire theft.
—John Leos, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for patrol
Dictionary Entries Near patrol
Cite this Entry
“Patrol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrol. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
patrol
1 of 2 noun
pa·trol
pə-ˈtrōl 
1
a
: the action of going the rounds of an area for observation or guard
b
: the person or group doing the patrolling
2
: a part of a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop
patrol
2 of 2 verb
patrolled; patrolling
: to carry out a patrol or a patrol of
patroller
noun
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