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

Anyone with information about the case or the whereabouts of Smart's body is asked to call the sheriff's office at 805-781-4550. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 7 May 2026

The device, known as the Grappler, was released from where it was installed on the front bumper of a sheriff’s vehicle and onto the fleeing suspect’s back tires. —Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

In their lawsuit against the county and sheriff’s office, attorneys say the altercation amounts to an excessive use of force and claim the deputies involved in the altercation were not properly trained. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026

These policies allegedly led to other instances of misconduct by sheriff’s deputies, but Curiel wrote that the examples alleged by the plaintiffs were too dissimilar to the circumstances in Espinoza’s case. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 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)