- the law-enforcement officer of a county or other civil subdivision of a state.
- (formerly) an important civil officer in an English shire.
- (in the US) the chief law-enforcement officer in a county: popularly elected, except in Rhode Island
- (in England and Wales) the chief executive officer of the Crown in a county, having chiefly ceremonial duties
- (in Scotland) a judge in any of the sheriff courts
- (in Australia) an administrative officer of the Supreme Court, who enforces judgments and the execution of writs, empanels juries, etc
- (in New Zealand) an officer of the High Court
