# sheriff

/ˈʃɛɹəf/ (US) · /ʃˈɛɹɪf/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sheriff
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. US law enforcement

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

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

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

- The local sheriff and his deputies arrived at the scene to investigate the robbery.
- 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. UK court official

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Formal

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

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

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

Teaching tip: Learners should note that the British 'sheriff' is rarely a street-level police officer, unlike the American version.

### 3. Scottish judge

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Dialect

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

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

- The sheriff listened to the evidence before making a final decision on the case.
- In the Scottish legal system, a sheriff has the authority to preside over solemn proceedings involving a jury for more serious criminal offences.

### 4. to perform sheriff duties

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

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

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

- He spent thirty years sheriffing the quiet desert county.
- The veteran officer had sheriffed the region for decades, earning a reputation for strict adherence to the letter of the law.

## Examples

- The sheriff wears a star-shaped badge on his shirt.
- After the robbery, the local sheriff organized a search party to look for the suspects in the nearby woods.
- While the city police handle urban crime, the sheriff's department maintains jurisdiction over the unincorporated areas of the county, providing essential law enforcement services to rural residents.

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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.