# Reeves

/ˈɹivz/ (US) · /ɹˈiːvz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reeves
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. historical officials

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

in the past, officials in England who were in charge of a town or district.

For teachers: plural form of reeve; historical administrative officials in England responsible for local government or estate management.

- The reeves were responsible for collecting taxes from the local farmers.
- In medieval England, reeves acted as intermediaries between the peasantry and the lord of the manor, ensuring that agricultural duties were fulfilled.

Usage: Usually appears in historical or legal texts discussing Anglo-Saxon or medieval governance.

Teaching tip: This term is rarely encountered outside of historical literature or academic study of the Middle Ages.

## Examples

- The reeve led the town council meeting.
- In medieval England, the reeve was responsible for overseeing the lord's lands and ensuring the peasants completed their work.
- While the term has largely vanished from British administrative use, several Canadian provinces retain the title of reeve for the chief executive officer of a rural municipality.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.