Cop: meaning, definitions and examples

Informal and casual situations; may be used in everyday conversation.

• I saw a cop directing traffic at the intersection
• The cops arrived quickly after the alarm went off

Formal and neutral; used in formal writing and when gender is not specified or relevant.

• The police officer asked to see my identification
• There was a police officer stationed outside the building

Formal and general; used to specifically refer to a male police officer.

• The policeman helped the lost child find her parents
• A brave policeman stopped the robbery in progress

Formal and general; used to specifically refer to a female police officer.

• The policewoman gave a talk at our school about safety
• A talented policewoman solved the difficult case quickly

Informal term for a police officer, commonly used in everyday conversation and casual settings.

• A cop pulled me over for speeding.
• There are a lot of cops at the festival for security.

Someone who lies or misleads others. This word carries a negative connotation and is used to describe a person who is dishonest.

• He was known as a deceiver in the community.
• You can't trust a deceiver’s words.

A person who deceives people for fun or malicious purposes. Often used in storytelling or folklore.

• In many fairy tales, there is a trickster who causes trouble.
• The trickster played pranks on everyone in the village.

Someone who uses scams or fraud to steal money or goods, typically involves elaborate schemes. This word carries a strong negative connotation.

• The swindler was arrested for running a Ponzi scheme.
• She was a victim of a swindler who promised her fake investment returns.

Informal term often used by young people or in casual speech to refer to the act of obtaining something, usually not through theft. It can also be used in the context of buying something.

• He managed to cop the latest sneakers before they sold out
• I'll cop some tickets for the concert this weekend

Used to describe taking something that does not belong to you without permission and intending to keep it. This word carries a clearly negative connotation and implies illegal activity.

• Someone tried to steal my bike last night
• He was caught stealing money from the cash register

This word is used in informal contexts to indicate quickly taking something, which can be either with permission or without. It often implies urgency or eagerness.

• Let's grab a coffee before the meeting
• She grabbed the opportunity to travel abroad

Used to describe quickly taking something, often without permission, or in a hurried and possibly forceful manner. It can have a slightly negative connotation.

• The thief snatched her purse and ran away
• He snatched the last piece of cake when no one was looking