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

Neither Woods nor the other driver suffered any serious injuries from the crash that caused Woods’s car to roll onto its side, the sheriff said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

"He has a right to refuse that test," added the sheriff.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

"Candidates should not try to be the meanest sheriff."

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

The sheriff, Bonta said, “has delayed, stonewalled, and otherwise refused to work with us in good faith” and failed to provide most of the requested documents.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2026

Though reserved to the point of being shy, the sheriff was adept at assuming undercover identities, having pretended to be everything from a cow rustler to a counterfeiter.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann