Phrase guide

blue wall of silence

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

Strict secretiveness maintained by the members of a police force with respect to information which might be contrary to their interests, especially information concerning questionable police actions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the secrecy of police officers who lie or look the other way to protect other police officers

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the blue wall cracked when some officers refused to take part in the cover-up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: blue wall, wall of silence

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cover-up

History

Etymology

In reference to blue police uniforms.