Posse meaning

pŏs'ē
The definition of a posse is a group of people who come together for a common goal or who stand up for something together.

A group of people who are brought together by a sheriff to help with law enforcement is an example of a posse.

If you get into an argument with someone and start a fist-fight and you have five of your friends to back you up in the fight, these five friends are an example of your posse.

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A group of friends or associates.
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A group of civilians called upon by a sheriff or other law enforcement official to assist temporarily in preserving the peace or pursuing and arresting a fugitive.
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A gang involved in crimes such as running guns and illegal narcotics trafficking.
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A search party.
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A body of men summoned to assist the sheriff in keeping the peace, pursuing felons, etc.
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(US) A group of people summoned to help law enforcement.
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(US) A search party.
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(US, Jamaica) A criminal gang.
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(by extension) A group of associates.
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Origin of posse

  • Short for posse comitatus
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Medieval Latin posse comitatus.
    From Wiktionary

Posse Sentence Examples

  • These provisions exist in posse only, and have, it is believed, never been put into force.

  • 1, 1885), in which he adopted the strongest attitude against the principle of the sovereignty of the people (ex its autem Pontificum prcescriptis illud omnino intelligi necesse est, ortum publicce potestatis a Deo ipso, non a multitudine repeti posse), refuting the notion that the principle of public power emanates from the will of the people alone (principatum non esse nisi populi voluntatem), and absolutely rejecting the sovereignty of the people as such.

  • Jones; he was rescued and taken to Lawrence; the city disclaimed complicity, but Jones persuaded Governor Wilson Shannon that there was rebellion, and Shannon authorized a posse; Missouri responded, and a pro-slavery force marched on Lawrence.

  • Posse Comitatus >>

  • They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc.

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Words near posse in the Dictionary