sheriff
SHEH-rihf
Sheriff (noun) means an elected or appointed official responsible for law enforcement and running the county jail in a US county. Example: “The county sheriff arrested the man and took him to the local jail.”
noun
1
An elected or appointed official responsible for law enforcement and running the county jail in a US county.
"The county sheriff arrested the man and took him to the local jail."
"Residents elect a new sheriff every few years to lead the county's deputies."
"The sheriff organized a search party after the storm."
2
In the UK, an official of a shire or county responsible for enforcing court orders and other legal duties.
"The sheriff sent officers to the flat to carry out the court's order."
"Under the order, the sheriff was allowed to remove goods to pay the debt."
"The High Sheriff attended the ceremonial opening of the court."
3
In Scotland, a judge who presides over a sheriff court.
"The sheriff in Edinburgh fined the shopkeeper after hearing evidence from both sides."
"My aunt trained as a solicitor and later became a sheriff in Glasgow."
"The case was heard before the sheriff at the local sheriff court."
How to use sheriff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA law enforcement or judicial official tied to a county or shire, with different exact roles in the US, UK, and Scotland.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with Sharif, an unrelated Arabic honorific title — they only sound alike by coincidence.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
county sheriff
sheriff's department
deputy sheriff
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Word forms
- Plural
- sheriffs
- Third person singular
- sheriffs
- Past tense
- sheriffed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The county _____ arrested the man and took him to the local jail.
Etymology
From Old English scirgerefa, combining scir ("shire") and gerefa ("reeve," an official) — literally "shire-reeve." Despite the similar sound, it has no historical connection to the Arabic-derived word Sharif.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sheriff” mean?
The word “sheriff” means an elected or appointed official responsible for law enforcement and running the county jail in a US county. In plain terms, a law enforcement or judicial official tied to a county or shire, with different exact roles in the US, UK, and Scotland.
How do you pronounce “sheriff”?
“Sheriff” is pronounced SHEH-rihf (/ˈʃɛɹɪf/ in IPA).
How do you use “sheriff” in a sentence?
Here is “sheriff” used in a sentence: “The sheriff organized a search party after the storm.”
What part of speech is “sheriff”?
“Sheriff” is a noun.
Where does the word “sheriff” come from?
The word “sheriff” comes from Old English. From Old English scirgerefa, combining scir ("shire") and gerefa ("reeve," an official) — literally "shire-reeve." Despite the similar sound, it has no historical connection to the Arabic-derived word Sharif.
Is “sheriff” a common word?
“Sheriff” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “sheriff” have?
“Sheriff” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an elected or appointed official responsible for law enforcement and running the county jail in a US county.
What is the difference between a "sheriff" and a police officer?
In the US, a "sheriff" is usually an elected official responsible for law enforcement across a whole county and for running the county jail. A police officer typically works for a city or town department within that wider area.
Is a "sheriff" the same in the US and the UK?
No. In the US, a "sheriff" is a county law-enforcement official who often runs the jail. In the UK, a sheriff is an official of a shire or county responsible for enforcing court orders and other legal duties, not day-to-day policing.
Is a "sheriff" elected or appointed?
In the US, a "sheriff" may be either elected by voters or appointed, depending on the county. This is a key way the role differs from most other police leadership positions.
What is the difference between a "sheriff" and a "marshal"?
A "sheriff" is generally a county-level official handling local law enforcement and the county jail. A marshal often operates at a different level, such as a court or federal jurisdiction, so the two cover different areas of authority.
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