lawman

noun

law·​man ˈlȯ-mən How to pronounce lawman (audio)
: a law-enforcement officer (such as a sheriff or marshal)

Examples of lawman in a Sentence

Wyatt Earp was a famous American lawman of the Wild West. as the rural county's chief lawman, the sheriff has to patrol a vast area with only minimal manpower
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Richie tells the lawman that Harry is smart, but unhappy with his current employment with Conrad. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 26 May 2025 The series will highlight the tense showdowns between lawmen and outlaws, the rise of cowboys and ranchers, the strength of pioneer women and the drive of abolitionists and fortune seekers who helped shape the American frontier. Charna Flam, People.com, 25 May 2025 As gallows are being built outside Lucas' jail cell, his estranged grandfather Harland Rust (Baldwin), an infamous outlaw, shows up to break him out of jail and take him to safety in Mexico, murdering a couple of lawmen in the process. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 2 May 2025 The duo play two different kinds of lawmen in the Western, directed by Richard Gray. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for lawman

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lawman was in 1944

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lawman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lawman. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

lawman

noun
law·​man ˈlȯ-mən How to pronounce lawman (audio)
: a law-enforcement officer (as a sheriff or marshal)

More from Merriam-Webster on lawman

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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