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sheriff

n. · v.
US //ˈʃɛɹəf// UK //ʃˈɛɹɪf// sher·iff
  1. 1 US law enforcement (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Law

    in the United States, an elected official who is the head of the police in a specific county.

    a government official in the US, typically elected, responsible for law enforcement and jail administration within a county.

    Example

    The local sheriff and his deputies arrived at the scene to investigate the robbery.

    Example

    In many rural American counties, the sheriff remains the primary authority for both criminal investigations and the management of the local correctional facility.

    Usage

    Often used as a title before a surname, such as 'Sheriff Miller'.
  2. 2 UK court official (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Formal Law

    in England and Wales, an official who carries out orders from a court, such as collecting debts.

    an official of a shire or county responsible for executing judicial writs and performing ceremonial duties.

    Example

    The High Sheriff attended the opening of the new court building.

    Example

    The role of the High Sheriff has evolved from a powerful administrative position into a largely ceremonial office representing the Crown in matters of law and order.

    Teacher's tip

    Learners should note that the British 'sheriff' is rarely a street-level police officer, unlike the American version.
  3. 3 Scottish judge (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Dialect Law

    in Scotland, a judge who hears cases in a local court.

    a legally qualified judge in a sheriff court, which handles both civil and criminal cases at a mid-tier level.

    Example

    The sheriff listened to the evidence before making a final decision on the case.

    Example

    In the Scottish legal system, a sheriff has the authority to preside over solemn proceedings involving a jury for more serious criminal offences.
  4. 4 to perform sheriff duties (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Formal Technical

    to do the work or carry out the duties of a sheriff.

    to perform the administrative or law enforcement functions associated with the office of sheriff.

    Example

    He spent thirty years sheriffing the quiet desert county.

    Example

    The veteran officer had sheriffed the region for decades, earning a reputation for strict adherence to the letter of the law.
Origin

Inherited from Middle English shirreve, in turn inherited from Old English sċīrġerēfa, corresponding to shire + reeve. There is no etymological connection to Sharif (Arabic شَرِيف (šarīf)), an Arabic title of honour with cognates in other languages, including Persian, Punjabi, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Turkish, Spanish, Portuguese, etc.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Idioms1 entry

Last updated June 19, 2026