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

The sheriff's office identified the man fatally shot as Lyle Maske, 62. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 1 Nov. 2024

He was armed with what the sheriff’s office identified as an AR-15. —Bay Area News Group, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024

This month, the sheriff’s office learned that the John Doe in the case had ancestors with roots in Michigan dating to the 1800s. —Antonio Planas, NBC News, 31 Oct. 2024

Investigators, the sheriff’s office said, then talked to Heitamaki’s siblings. —Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 31 Oct. 2024

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

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)