bailiff

[bey-lif]

noun

1. an officer, similar to a sheriff or a sheriff's deputy, employed to execute writs and processes, make arrests, keep order in the court, etc.

2. (in Britain) a person charged with local administrative authority, or the chief magistrate in certain towns.

3. (especially in Britain) an overseer of a landed estate or farm.

bailiff

/ ˈbeɪlɪf /

noun

1. the agent or steward of a landlord or landowner

2. a sheriff's officer who serves writs and summonses, makes arrests, and ensures that the sentences of the court are carried out

3. (formerly) a high official having judicial powers

4. an official having custody of prisoners appearing in court

Other Word Forms

• bailiffship noun
• subbailiff noun
• underbailiff noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bailiff¹

1250–1300; Middle English baillif < Old French, equivalent to bail custody ( bail ¹ ) + -if -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of bailiff¹

C13: from Old French baillif , from bail custody; see _bail ¹

Example Sentences

In the year to June, more than 11,000 households in England had their homes repossessed by bailiffs following a no-fault eviction process.

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Mr Barley said he tried to dispute the charges he faced because of the late bill, but received no support and bailiffs continued to deliver letters to his home.

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“From the bench, Judge Monguia stated that Judge Marcus was lucky the bailiff was not there, otherwise he would have ordered her to ‘shoot’ Judge Marcus or words to that effect.”

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He received a bankruptcy petition on Christmas Eve, and bailiffs turned up at the training ground of Oxford United, where he works as a coach.

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Housing charity Shelter said it was "unconscionable" that "renters continue to be marched out of their homes by bailiffs because of an unfair policy that the government said would be scrapped immediately".

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Related Words

• constable