police brutality

noun

The use of excessive, unjustified force, typically of a physical nature, but also including verbal abuse and psychological intimidation, by a police officer while carrying out, or under the cover of carrying out, law enforcement duties.

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Meanings

nounpolice brutality (uncountable)
  1. uncountableThe use of excessive, unjustified force, typically of a physical nature, but also including verbal abuse and psychological intimidation, by a police officer while carrying out, or under the cover of carrying out, law enforcement duties.

Translations

Arabic عنف الشرطة
  • عنف الشرطة (ʕunf al-šurṭa)use of excessive force by a police officer
Chinese Mandarin 警察暴力, 警暴
  • 警察暴力 (jǐngchá bàolì)use of excessive force by a police officer
  • 警暴 (jǐngbào)use of excessive force by a police officer
Finnish poliisiväkivalta
  • poliisiväkivaltause of excessive force by a police officer
French violence policière, brutalité policière
  • violence policièreuse of excessive force by a police officer
  • brutalité policièreuse of excessive force by a police officer
German Polizeibrutalität, Polizeigewalt
  • Polizeibrutalitätuse of excessive force by a police officer
  • Polizeigewaltuse of excessive force by a police officer
Italian brutalità poliziesca, violenza poliziesca
  • brutalità poliziescause of excessive force by a police officer
  • violenza poliziescause of excessive force by a police officer
Japanese 警察の暴力
  • 警察の暴力use of excessive force by a police officer
Norwegian Bokmål politivold
  • politivolduse of excessive force by a police officer
Polish brutalność policji
  • brutalność policjiuse of excessive force by a police officer
Romanian brutalitatea poliției
  • brutalitatea polițieiuse of excessive force by a police officer
Spanish brutalidad policial, sevicia policial
  • brutalidad policialuse of excessive force by a police officer
  • sevicia policialuse of excessive force by a police officer
Swedish polisbrutalitet
  • polisbrutalitetuse of excessive force by a police officer
Cite this entry
APA

police brutality. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/police%20brutality

MLA

“police brutality.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/police%20brutality. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “police brutality,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/police%20brutality.

Source: police brutality on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.