sheriff

noun

sher·​iff ˈsher-əf 

: an important official of a shire or county charged primarily with judicial duties (such as executing the processes and orders of courts and judges)

sheriffdom

ˈsher-əf-dəm 

-təm

noun

Examples of sheriff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hancock said Teske didn’t wait around, and instead took the bullets to the sheriff’s office. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2024

The sheriff’s office operates out of several locations throughout the county. —Sherry Greenfield, Baltimore Sun, 12 July 2024

On the third day of Baldwin's trial, judge Mary Marlowe Sommer sent home jurors as the court weighed the Baldwin team's claims the Santa Fe sheriff's office took possession of live rounds as evidence but failed to file them in the investigation or disclose their existence to defense lawyers. —Andrew Hay, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024

Detectives eventually learned the 4-year-old had last been seen on Saturday with his mother, Aaliyah Jack, 25, of Lake Charles, and his 1-year-old brother, the sheriff’s office said. —Jamiel Lynch, CNN, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shirreve, from Old English scīrgerēfa, from scīr shire + gerēfa reeve — more at shire, reeve

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sheriff

noun

sher·​iff ˈsher-əf 

: an official of a county who is in charge of enforcing the law

Etymology

Middle English shirreve "sheriff," from Old English scīrgerēfa "sheriff," from scīr "shire, county" and gerēfa "a government agent"

Legal Definition

sheriff

noun

sher·​iff

: an official of a county or parish charged primarily with judicial duties (as executing the processes and orders of courts and judges)

Etymology

Old English scīrgerēfa, from scīr shire + gerēfa reeve (king's agent)