Cordon/ˈkɔːrdn/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/3Authority Presence A cordon often implies law enforcement or military securing an area. The cordon was visible during the VIP visit. Pro Tip 2/3Tense Situations Used when an area is possibly dangerous or a crime has happened. Residents saw a cordon after the bank robbery. Pro Tip 3/3Visible Boundary A cordon is often marked by tape or barricades for visibility. Yellow tape marked the police cordon.