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

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

Other Word Forms

• sheriffdom noun
• subsheriff 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

The sheriff’s office said the two deputies remain on administrative leave and the shooting remains under investigation.

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Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about a dead child at an apartment in the 3100 block of Euclid Avenue in Lynwood around 8:30 p.m., according to a news release.

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Eleven minutes later, sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the home after reports of a home invasion robbery, Sgt.

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A sheriff’s spokesperson did not know whether the department is conducting a use-of-force investigation.

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There has been an outpouring of grief for Andrew Nunez, a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy who was fatally shot Monday, allegedly by a suspect who then led officers on a wild motorcycle chase.

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