Dictionary

rent-a-cop en · NOUN

Etymology

From rent-a- + cop, modelled after the brand name Rent-a-Car.

Meanings

1. (colloquial, derogatory) A private security guard, usually one regarded as inferior to and less skilled than an actual law enforcement officer.
   • “What got into you tonight? Why'd you pull that scene at the arcade? I had to mess up this rentacop^([sic]) came after me with nunchucks.” 1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 24:

Forms