: an important official of a shire or county charged primarily with judicial duties (such as executing the processes and orders of courts and judges)
Examples of sheriff in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Willows officials said Grant Carmon, board chair, agreed to the meeting; county and sheriff’s officials would not agree to meet.
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Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
According to the sheriff's office, this was Simon's third DUI arrest in the past 10 years.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The case will be forwarded to the FBI for consideration of federal charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
The sheriff’s office said Gallimore left the scene after that attack, according to witnesses.
—Maveah Griffith, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
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Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 12 June 2026
According to the sheriff's office, this was Simon's third DUI arrest in the past 10 years.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 11 June 2026
The case will be forwarded to the FBI for consideration of federal charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
—Jason Green, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
The sheriff’s office said Gallimore left the scene after that attack, according to witnesses.
—Maveah Griffith, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheriff
Cite this Entry
“Sheriff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheriff. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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"
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