bailiff

noun

bai·​liff ˈbā-ləf 

1

a

: an official employed by a British sheriff to serve writs and make arrests and executions

b

: a minor officer of some U.S. courts usually serving as a messenger or usher

2

chiefly British : one who manages an estate or farm

bailiffship

ˈbā-ləf-ˌship 

noun

Examples of bailiff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anthony posted the $250,000 bond for his release on April 14, required to wear an ankle monitor under house arrest and check in with a bailiff every Friday, NBC Dallas-Fort Worth reported. —Viola Flowers, NBC news, 15 May 2025

Local police confirmed the federal agents showed their badges and federal credentials to the bailiff before the arrest. —Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 6 May 2025

Sheriff Chan Bryant confirmed that the agents had shown badges and paperwork to a bailiff beforehand. —Gene Johnson and Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025

In a news release, Bryant said the federal agents showed paperwork and credentials to the bailiffs before making the arrests. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English baillif, bailie, from Anglo-French baillif, from bail power, authority, office, from baillier to govern, administer, from Medieval Latin bajulare to care for, support, from Latin, to carry a burden — more at bail entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

bailiff

noun

bai·​liff ˈbā-ləf 

1

: any of various officials

especially : a minor officer of some U.S. courts usually serving as a messenger or doorkeeper

2

chiefly British : one who manages an estate or farm

Legal Definition

bailiff

noun

bai·​liff ˈbā-ləf 

: an officer of some courts in the U.S. whose duties usually include keeping order in the courtroom and guarding prisoners or jurors in deliberation

Etymology

Anglo-French, steward, king's official, from bail stewardship, custody, handing over see bail