sheriff

[ sher-if ]

noun

1. the law-enforcement officer of a county or other civil subdivision of a state.
2. (formerly) an important civil officer in an English shire.

sheriff

/ ˈʃɛrɪf /

noun

1. (in the US) the chief law-enforcement officer in a county: popularly elected, except in Rhode Island
2. (in England and Wales) the chief executive officer of the Crown in a county, having chiefly ceremonial duties shrieval
3. (in Scotland) a judge in any of the sheriff courts
4. (in Australia) an administrative officer of the Supreme Court, who enforces judgments and the execution of writs, empanels juries, etc
5. (in New Zealand) an officer of the High Court

Derived Forms

• ˈsheriffdom, noun

Other Words From

• sher·iff·dom [sher, -if-d, uh, m], noun
• sub·sheriff noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheriff¹

before 1050; Middle English sher ( r ) ef, Old English scīrgerēfa. See shire, reeve ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheriff¹

Old English scīrgerēfa, from scīr shire ¹+ gerēfa reeve ¹

Example Sentences

Police have been emailing him, "pulling at his heartstrings" in an effort to coax him back home and “clean up the mess that he has created,” the sheriff said.

From BBC

Representatives for Johnson as well as the Williamson County sheriff’s and district attorney’s offices did not reply immediately Tuesday to The Times’ request for comment.

From Los Angeles Times

County sheriff’s deputy will avoid jail time in the 2021 shooting death of a suicidal man under the terms of a plea deal reached with prosecutors Tuesday morning.

From Los Angeles Times

Emergency crews summoned to Tabler Avenue in Lancaster at 1:27 a.m. found a one-story home in flames, according to the Los Angeles County sheriff and fire departments.

From Los Angeles Times

According to federal prosecutors, that includes multiple Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies, who were allegedly hired to carry out Iza’s criminal bidding.

From Los Angeles Times