sheriff

noun

sher·​iff ˈsher-əf How to pronounce sheriff (audio)
: 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 noun

Examples of sheriff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If agents plan to detain or arrest an individual, sheriff deputies must be present — but do not assist — to ensure safety. Vanessa Swales, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025 County supervisors should consider requiring the sheriff to pay legal settlements out of her agency’s budget rather than the county’s general fund, the report said, and if the office does not show more improvement, voters should respond accordingly. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025 Miami-Dade sheriff’s deputies recently solved the case after linking Koehler’s DNA to the victim, who is not identified in court records. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025 Other crime reports in Texas have been linked to the pair, like murders in Hillsboro, Abilene, Sherman and Dallas, as well as more robberies in Lufkin and Dallas, auto theft in Victoria and the kidnapping of a sheriff and police chief in Wellington. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sheriff

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sheriff was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sheriff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheriff. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sheriff

noun
sher·​iff ˈsher-əf How to pronounce sheriff (audio)
: 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)

More from Merriam-Webster on sheriff

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