sheriff

noun

sher·iff ˈsher-əf

Synonyms of sheriff

: an important official of a shire or county charged primarily with judicial duties (such as executing the processes and orders of courts and judges)

sheriffdom

ˈsher-əf-dəm

-təm

noun

Examples of sheriff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Climbers who have not reached the summit by noon should turn back, the sheriff’s office said, giving themselves — and rescuers, if needed — enough daylight to get off the mountain. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026 Dewey is the town sheriff; Gale has retired as a reporter and is married to him, but bored in Woodsboro. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026 Officers also found several large shipping boxes containing precious metals, two unregistered firearms, and more than $105,000 in cash, according to the sheriff’s department. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 Investigators ask anyone with information about the shooting to call the sheriff’s office at 704-216-8700. — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sheriff

Word History

Etymology

Middle English shirreve, from Old English scīrgerēfa, from scīr shire + gerēfa reeve — more at shire, reeve

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sheriff was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Sheriff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheriff. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sheriff

noun

sher·iff ˈsher-əf

: an official of a county who is in charge of enforcing the law

Etymology

Middle English shirreve "sheriff," from Old English scīrgerēfa "sheriff," from scīr "shire, county" and gerēfa "a government agent"

Legal Definition

sheriff

noun

sher·iff

: an official of a county or parish charged primarily with judicial duties (as executing the processes and orders of courts and judges)

Etymology

Old English scīrgerēfa, from scīr shire + gerēfa reeve (king's agent)

sheriff

noun

Examples of sheriff in a Sentence

Word History

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sheriff

noun

Examples of sheriff in a Sentence

Word History

Rhymes for sheriff

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to sheriff

Government Trivia: Who's that official?

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