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Definition of patdown

patdown

/ˈpæt.daʊn/
pat · down
Plural:patdowns
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patdown Lexical Profile

patdown Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

An inspection in which a police officer or security guard runs their hands over the outer clothing of a person to check for concealed weapons or contraband.

Example

"Passengers who cannot pass through the airport metal detector must undergo a thorough patdown by a security officer."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for patdown

Word Nuance & Usage

The closed or hyphenated form 'patdown' (or 'pat-down') is used as a noun or attributive modifier, whereas the two-word phrasal verb 'pat down' is used for the action (e.g., 'The officer conducted a patdown' vs. 'The officer had to pat down the passenger').

• Nearby Words

patchouli
patchwork
patchy
patdown
pate
patella
patent

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Patdown. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/patdown
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