sheriff

American  

[sher-if] / ˈʃɛr ɪf /

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.

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sheriff British  

/ 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

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

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Other Word Forms

• sheriffdom noun
• subsheriff noun

Etymology

Origin of sheriff

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

Example Sentences

Residents have called on sheriff’s deputies and police for help, only to be told that local agencies do not interfere with federal operations.

From Los Angeles Times

The sheriff's office said detectives were "working to determine the circumstances leading up to this tragedy."

From Barron's

The woman was transported to the county Coroner’s Office where an autopsy found injuries consistent with a fall, the sheriff’s department said.

From Los Angeles Times

As she grew to enjoy the deployment, Beckstrom sent photos of monuments and of a patch given to her by a local sheriff’s office, Short said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The son of a deputy sheriff, he played varsity baseball in high school.

From The Wall Street Journal