robocop n.

a robotic or bionic law enforcement officer

Popularized by the 1987 film Robocop.

SF Encyclopedia


Robotics

  • 1957 H. Ellison Wanted in Surgery in Worlds of If Aug. 79/1 page image Harlan Ellison bibliography

    Bergman stopped dead at the door, as the robocop rolled up, and its tentacles slammed out at him.

  • 1967 H. A. Hargreaves Dead to the World in J. Carnell New Writings in SF 11 153 page image H. A. Hargreaves bibliography

    It couldn’t have been more than three minutes later when the robo-cop arrived, moving swiftly and competently across the grass while his companion remained behind, at the cruiser.

  • 1987 (title of film)

    Robocop.

  • 1998 R. Garcia y Robertson Starfall in Asimov’s Science Fiction July 114 page image R. Garcia y Robertson bibliography

    Her robo-cop escort hustled Tiffany past crying babies and disbelieving parents.

  • 2021 N. Okorafor Remote Control vii. 85 Nnedi Okorafor bibliography

    They were called ‘robocops’ and they were supposedly artificially intelligent. If anything, she was sure they at least were connected to the internet and could scan and search every person around it for information. As if to prove this, the robocop turned to her as she stood there. It was probably scanning her for any kind of tech so that it could digitally send her a ‘Welcome to RoboTown’ message.

Last modified 2021-01-13 15:29:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.