sworn officers

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Police or law-enforcement employees who have taken an official oath and hold full powers of arrest.

   Grammar: Always plural in this meaning; the singular is 'a sworn officer.'

   Patterns

   • sworn officers in a department
   • a force of sworn officers
   • sworn officers on duty

   The city plans to hire twenty more sworn officers next year.

   Only sworn officers may carry a firearm on duty.

   The department has 300 sworn officers and about 80 civilian staff.

2. 2nounpluralformal

   People in any organization who have formally sworn an oath of service, especially in the military or security services.

   Grammar: Used more generally than the police sense; contrast with civilian employees.

   Patterns

   • sworn officers of the crown
   • sworn officers and enlisted personnel

   The report distinguishes sworn officers from civilian contractors.

   Sworn officers take an oath before they begin their duties.

Common combinations

sworn officer

She became a sworn officer after graduating from the academy.

number of sworn officers

The number of sworn officers has fallen since 2010.

sworn officers and civilians

The budget covers both sworn officers and civilians.

sworn law-enforcement officers

Sworn law-enforcement officers receive special legal powers.

Synonyms and how they differ

police officers

More general and common in everyday speech; it does not always stress the legal oath or arrest powers.

peace officers

A legal term used in some US states for officers with similar powers; narrower and more formal.

Opposites

Word family

swear in phrasal verb

To formally give someone an oath when they start a public or official job.

sworn statement noun

A written statement made under oath.

Commonly confused: sworn officers or sworn in?

Practice

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