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

The scam calls are so prevalent, especially toward senior citizens, that Milwaukee's sheriff's office has kept a warning for them at the top of its public service announcement web page and developed a video in November 2024 on what people should expect. —David Clarey, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025

The briefing included hemorrhage control training led by Deputy Paramedic Dustin Roy of the sheriff’s office. —Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025

An 8-year-old and a 9-year-old were taken by air to hospitals and are in critical condition, the sheriff's office said. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025

The two other children, ages 8 and 9, were transported in critical condition, according to the sheriff’s office. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2025

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)