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

They contrasted Gonzales’s caution against the actions of Joe Vasquez, a sheriff’s deputy from a neighboring county who testified that he sped to the scene before realizing it was his own daughter’s school.

From The Wall Street Journal

Photos released by the local sheriff’s department in the wake of the couple’s deaths also revealed insight into their heartwarming romance, capturing sweet love notes that Hackman had left for his wife in their home.

From MarketWatch

The surviving hikers were taken to the sheriff’s Lake Hemet Mountain Station for medical evaluation.

From Los Angeles Times

The woman, who was unharmed, was then taken to the Lakewood sheriff’s station.

From Los Angeles Times

Edison blames the county fire department, sheriff’s department and office of emergency management for their failure to warn Altadena residents west of Lake Avenue to evacuate.

From Los Angeles Times