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
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The mission has included maritime patrols by P-8 reconnaissance aircraft and long-range surveillance flights to map trafficking routes.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
In the months since, community members say that troops have stood outside the bar or patrolled the surrounding Capitol Hill neighborhood nearly every day.
—Colleen Hamilton, Them., 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
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Noun
Stars and Stripes reported that the aircraft carrier, which returned to its home port on October 18, resumed its patrol.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
The mission has included maritime patrols by P-8 reconnaissance aircraft and long-range surveillance flights to map trafficking routes.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
If the emergency vehicle behind you has solid blue and red lights shining, the officer inside is patrolling the area and just wants to be visible.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
In the months since, community members say that troops have stood outside the bar or patrolled the surrounding Capitol Hill neighborhood nearly every day.
—Colleen Hamilton, Them., 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for patrol
Cite this Entry
“Patrol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patrol. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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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