gendarmerie

gendarmerie, national police force

noun zhahn-darm-REE Rare

Origin: From gendarme (armed man), originally 'gens d'armes' (men-at-arms)

Also means

police station (rural/military)

Usage Note

Gendarmerie refers specifically to France's military police corps that operates primarily in rural areas and smaller towns, distinct from the police nationale which covers cities. A single station is also called a gendarmerie. The officers are gendarmes (m pl). The institution dates back to the Ancien Régime and is under Ministry of the Interior authority today.

Examples

"Il s'est rendu à la gendarmerie pour porter plainte."

Natural Translation

He went to the police station to file a complaint.

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