: an important official of a shire or county charged primarily with judicial duties (such as executing the processes and orders of courts and judges)
Examples of sheriff in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That person was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but has since been upgraded to stable, according to the sheriff's office.
—
Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
An investigation remains active and ongoing, the sheriff's office said.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Two men were seen in the area of the shooting carrying guns shortly before the incident unfolded, according to video obtained by WTTG, but the sheriff's office is not connecting them to the shooting at this time.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
One of the 16-year-olds was being treated for a gunshot wound in the hospital, the sheriff's office said.
—Charles Ventura, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheriff
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Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
An investigation remains active and ongoing, the sheriff's office said.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2025
Two men were seen in the area of the shooting carrying guns shortly before the incident unfolded, according to video obtained by WTTG, but the sheriff's office is not connecting them to the shooting at this time.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025
One of the 16-year-olds was being treated for a gunshot wound in the hospital, the sheriff's office said.
—Charles Ventura, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheriff
Cite this Entry
“Sheriff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheriff. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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"
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