sheriff

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

sheriffdom

2 of 2

noun (2)

sher·​iff·​dom -fdəm 

plural -s

: shrievalty

Examples of sheriff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 42-year-old woman, who was driving the SUV, and the 35-year-old man riding in the vehicle were arrested after trying to flee the scene on foot, according to the sheriff's office. — CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

The sheriff’s office said there is no active threat to the community. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

The skydivers were transported to a local hospital in critical condition, where they were later pronounced dead, according to the sheriff's office. — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 6 Nov. 2026

The sheriff’s Special Investigations Group began looking into the pair earlier this year and bought more than 500 pills containing meth from Fornalewski and Zarate over several months. — Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English shirrevedom, sherrevedom, shirefdom, sherefdom, from shirreve, sherreve, shiref, sheref sheriff + -dom

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sheriff

• sherif
• tariff
• nontariff

Kids Definition

sheriff

noun

sher·​iff ˈsher-əf 

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

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

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