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

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

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)