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 along creeks, streams and the Guadalupe River should seek higher ground, the sheriff's office said. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 5 July 2025

He was shot down by a sheriff’s posse in Oklahoma in 1911. —Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2025

The sheriff’s office added that two other people remain unaccounted for as search and recovery efforts continue. —David Chiu, People.com, 4 July 2025

Comments on a Facebook post from the Kerr County sheriff’s office were riddled with photos of people in the flood zone. —Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 4 July 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)