bailiff
Bailiff (noun) means a court officer responsible for keeping order in the courtroom and enforcing the judge's orders. Example: “The bailiff escorted the jury out of the room.”
How to use bailiff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA law-enforcement officer who keeps order in court or carries out court orders like debt collection and evictions.
In the UK, a bailiff typically enforces debts and evictions; in the US, a bailiff usually just keeps order in the courtroom, while debt enforcement falls to other officials.
Word forms
bailiffs plural, Bailiffs plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ escorted the jury out of the room.
Etymology
From Middle English baillif, via Anglo-Norman and Old French, ultimately from Latin baiulus ("porter, steward") — the same root as bail.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “bailiff” mean?
The word “bailiff” means a court officer responsible for keeping order in the courtroom and enforcing the judge's orders. In plain terms, a law-enforcement officer who keeps order in court or carries out court orders like debt collection and evictions.
How do you pronounce “bailiff”?
“Bailiff” is pronounced BAY-lihf (/ˈbeɪlɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “bailiff” in a sentence?
Here is “bailiff” used in a sentence: “The bailiff escorted the jury out of the room.”
What is another word for “bailiff”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bailiff” include steward and overseer.
What part of speech is “bailiff”?
“Bailiff” is a noun.
Where does the word “bailiff” come from?
The word “bailiff” comes from Latin. From Middle English baillif, via Anglo-Norman and Old French, ultimately from Latin baiulus ("porter, steward") — the same root as bail.
How many meanings does “bailiff” have?
“Bailiff” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a court officer responsible for keeping order in the courtroom and enforcing the judge's orders.
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