noun
sheriff
SHEH-rihf
noun
1
An elected or appointed official responsible for law enforcement and running the county jail in a US county.
"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 High Sheriff attended the ceremonial opening of the court."
3
In Scotland, a judge who presides over a sheriff court.
"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
Word Forms
sheriffed past tense, sheriffs plural, sheriffs singular
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The _____ organized a search party after the storm.
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.