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

Ryan Charles Whiten was the biological father of Savannah Whiten and Sienna Whiten, and Hyer was the girls' mother, according to the sheriff's office. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 4 June 2026

Thursday’s dismissal of the charges clears a path for Spencer to potentially become Lonoke County’s sheriff in November. —CNN Money, 4 June 2026

Palm Beach County, which encompasses both the Town of Palm Beach and the City of West Palm Beach, has a county sheriff’s office with jurisdiction over towns and cities in the county that don’t have their own police departments. —Julie K. Brown, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Spencer in March won the Republican nomination for sheriff, defeating incumbent Sheriff John Staley, who leads the agency that investigated the killing. —Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 4 June 2026

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

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

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)