Police Vocabulary Practice

Here are seven specific examples that are high-frequency errors on entrance exams (APCAT, OACP) and on the job.

1. Elicit vs. Illicit
This is the classic mix-up that changes the entire meaning of a sentence.

The Nightmare Mistake: Writing “We seized elicit drugs from the vehicle” or “I tried to illicit a statement.”

The Fix:

• Illicit = Illegal (Illicit starts with I for Illegal).
• Elicit = To draw out or gather info (e.g., Elicit a response).

Pro Tip: If you mix these up, you might accidentally report that you were trying to do something illegal when you were just asking questions!

2. Statute vs. Statue
One is a law; the other is a pigeon rest stop.

The Nightmare Mistake: “The suspect was charged under the Criminal Statue.”

The Fix:

• Statute = A written law.
• Statue = A sculpture.

Pro Tip: It sounds funny, but spellcheck often won’t catch this because “Statue” is a real word. Double-check this one every time.

3. Corroborate
A big $10 word that is essential for police notes.

The Nightmare Mistake: Spelling it “colaborate,” “coberate,” or confusing it with “collaborate” (working together).

The Fix:

Corroborate = To confirm or support a statement with evidence.

Memory Hook: Think of a Robot. A cor-rob-orate statement is strong like a robot. (Okay, it’s cheesy, but it works!).

4. Affected vs. Effected
The heavyweight champion of grammar mistakes.

The Nightmare Mistake: “The alcohol effected his driving.”

The Fix:

• Affect = Action (Verb). The rain affected the road conditions.
• Effect = Result (Noun). The rain had a bad effect.

Pro Tip: If you aren’t 100% sure, swap the word for “altered” or “changed.” If it still makes sense, use Affect.

5. Complainant
This is the proper legal term for a victim or person reporting an issue.

The Nightmare Mistake: Referring to them as the “Complainer.”

The Fix:

• Complainant = The person making the formal complaint.
• Complainer = Someone whining about their coffee being cold.

Why it matters: Calling a victim a “complainer” in an official report sounds biased and unprofessional. Stick to “Complainant.”

6. Disperse vs. Disburse
You will use one of these at a riot, and the other at a bank.

The Nightmare Mistake: “The crowd refused to disburse.”

The Fix:

• Disperse = To scatter or spread out (Police disperse crowds).
• Disburse = To pay out money (Banks disburse funds).

Pro Tip: You will likely never use “disburse” in a police report unless you are investigating financial fraud.

Think you’ve got these mastered? These are just 7 of the hundreds of terms you’ll run into on the OACP (Ontario), APCAT (Alberta), or JIBC (BC) exams.

We’ve put together a quick quiz to test your ‘Police Eye’ for detail.

Instructions
Read each sentence carefully. Select the word or phrase that best defines the bolded word as it is used in the context of the sentence.

1. The officer had to apprehend the suspect before he crossed the border.

A) Question B) Arrest C) Release D) Search

2. The witness was able to corroborate the victim’s time line of events.

A) Contradict B) Confirm C) Write down D) Forget

3. The suspect became belligerent when asked for his identification.

A) Confused B) Hostile C) Cooperative D) Silent

4. The defense lawyer argued that his client’s difficult childhood should mitigate the sentence.

A) Increase B) Cancel C) Lessen D) Explain

5. The driver was found culpable for the accident due to his negligence.

A) Blameworthy B) Innocent C) Injured D) Unaware

6. Officers must enforce the statute regarding noise complaints after 11:00 PM.

A) Opinion B) Suggestion C) Law D) Warning

7. It is illegal to coerce a confession from a detainee.

A) Record B) Force C) Request D) Reject

8. The search revealed a large quantity of illicit substances in the vehicle.

A) Illegal B) Imported C) Unknown D) Dangerous

9. New DNA evidence helped to exonerate the man who had been in prison for ten years.

A) Convict B) Transfer C) Absolve D) Identify

10. The undercover unit maintained constant surveillance on the warehouse.

A) Distance B) Attacks C) Communication D) Observation

1. B) Arrest.
Apprehend means to take into custody or arrest someone for a crime.

2. B) Confirm.
Corroborate means to support a statement with evidence or authority.

3. B) Hostile.
Belligerent means hostile and aggressive.

4. C) Lessen.
Mitigate means to make something less severe, serious, or painful.

5. A) Blameworthy.
Culpable means deserving blame. (Think: “Culprit”).

6. C) Law.
A statute is a written law passed by a legislative body.

7. B) Force.
Coerce means to persuade (an unwilling person) to do something by using force or threats.

8. A) Illegal.
Illicit means forbidden by law, rules, or custom.

9. C) Absolve.
Exonerate means to clear someone from blame or a criminal charge.

10. D) Observation.
Surveillance is close observation, especially of a suspected spy or criminal.

Did you ace the quiz? If not, don’t worry—our comprehensive study guides have full vocabulary lists, grammar practice, and hundreds of practice questions specific to your province.

Need a hand with the rest of the test? Vocabulary is just one piece of the puzzle. Whether you are tackling the mental logic puzzles in Alberta or the detailed case files in Ontario, we’ve got a roadmap to help you get through it.

We’ve helped thousands of recruits get their badge. Let’s get you ready for yours.

• See the Ontario Guide (Perfect for OACP applicants)

• See the Alberta Guide (APCAT & ACT specific)

• See the BC Guide (JIBC & Municipal)