undersheriff

American  

[uhn-der-sher-if] / ˈʌn dərˌʃɛr ɪf /

noun

1. a sheriff's deputy, especially one on whom the sheriff's duties devolve when the office is vacant.

---

undersheriff British  

/ ˈʌndəˌʃɛrɪf /

noun

1. a deputy sheriff

---

Etymology

Origin of undersheriff

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; under-, sheriff

Example Sentences

Tyler, the former undersheriff, noted that McDonnell won’t answer directly to voters as chief.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2024

Even after the Appomattox surrender, the secessionist undersheriff, King, went on insisting, “We have been and are yet secessionist.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2024

This year the Civilian Oversight Commission heard sworn testimony from both the former sheriff and the former undersheriff during a pair of hearings about the tattooed groups.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2024

Previously, the former undersheriff has cited a medical condition as his reason for refusing to testify.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 2023

Then, instead of stopping immediately in Milagro, the agent drove north to the other block, manned by a county undersheriff and another state cop, Sal Bugbee, who also had nothing else to report.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols