In the United States, a sheriff is a person who is elected to make sure that the law is obeyed in a particular county.
...the local sheriff.
...Sheriff Bob Cahill.
2. countable noun & title noun
In Scotland, a sheriff is a legal officer whose chief duty is to act as judge in a Sheriff Court. These courts deal with all but the most serious crimes and with most civil actions.
...the presiding judge, Sheriff John Mowatt.
3. countable noun
In England and Wales, the Sheriffof a city or county is a person who is elected or appointed to carry out mainly ceremonial duties.
...the Sheriff of Oxford. [+ of]
sheriff in British English
(ˈʃɛrɪf)
noun
1.
(in the US) the chief law-enforcement officer in a county: popularly elected, except in Rhode Island
2.
(in England and Wales) the chief executive officer of the Crown in a county, having chiefly ceremonial duties
▶ Related adjective: shrieval
3.
(in Scotland) a judge in any of the sheriff courts
4.
(in Australia) an administrative officer of the Supreme Court, who enforces judgments and the execution of writs, empanels juries, etc
5.
(in New Zealand) an officer of the High Court
Derived forms
sheriffdom (ˈsheriffdom)
noun
Word origin
Old English scīrgerēfa, from scīrshire1 + gerēfareeve1
sheriff in American English
(ˈʃɛrɪf)
noun
1.
in England, esp. formerly, any of various officers of a shire, or county
2. US
in the U.S., the chief law-enforcement officer of a county, charged in general with the keeping of the peace and the execution of court orders