cops
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The police, considered as a group entity.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"Maybe he'll git the cops after you, Jack." "I'll watch out fer dat, Nick, an' you must watch out too," answered Jack Sagger.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “cops” mean?
The police, considered as a group entity.
Is “cops” formal or informal?
cops is generally slang.