1. a body or force of gendarmes; a police or military organization, especially in French-speaking countries
Usage: often capitalized when referring to a specific national force; chiefly used in historical or international contexts

Examples

• The French gendarmery maintains order in rural areas.
• Members of the gendarmery were stationed at the border checkpoint.
• The gendarmery conducted a thorough investigation into the incident.
• Local gendarmery units responded quickly to the emergency call.
• The gendarmery's jurisdiction covers both civilian and military matters in some regions.