Police Report: Definition, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：police report (Police Report)

Police Report 🔊

/pəˈliːs rɪˈpɔːrt/

An official document written by the police, detailing an incident they have been informed about and their findings.

police report 🔊

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/pəˈliːs rɪˈpɔːrt/

An official document created by law enforcement that records the details of an incident they have investigated, including statements, evidence, and conclusions.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Police from Greek 'politeia' (government) + Report from Latin 'reportare' (to carry back).

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'Police record every incident - a formal paper trail.'

📖 Example

I need to get a copy of the police report to give to my insurance company after the car accident. 🔊 I need to obtain a copy of the police report to submit to my insurance company after the car accident.

🔗 Collocations

file a police report – to formally submit a documented account of an incident to law enforcement

obtain a police report – to request and receive a copy of the official police document

police report number – the unique identification code assigned to a specific police report

🔄 Synonyms

incident report (n.) – A formal record of an event, often used in workplace or security contexts, similar to a police report but not exclusively law enforcement.

crime report (n.) – A specific type of police report focused on criminal activity.

accident report (n.) – A document detailing a vehicular or other accident, often filed with police or insurance.

📖 Cultural Story

The term emerged in the 19th century alongside modern policing. In the U.S., police reports are standardized forms used for insurance claims and court evidence.