bailiff

noun

bai·​liff ˈbā-ləf How to pronounce bailiff (audio)
1
a
: an official employed by a British sheriff to serve writs and make arrests and executions
b
: a minor officer of some U.S. courts usually serving as a messenger or usher
2
chiefly British : one who manages an estate or farm
bailiffship noun

Examples of bailiff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As a former bailiff, seeing a jury enter a courtroom was nothing new for Renard. Morgan Canty, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2025 The angler, Shaun Ing, and his wife, Chloe Ing, are regulars and bailiffs (like park monitors) at Chigboro, a pay-lake complex and resort outside London. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 8 Jan. 2025 The bailiff said during the hearing that these types of fears are not uncommon in her experience, with Blazey adding that the court came up with a security plan for the jurors before the trial, something that's typically done before high-profile cases. Skye Seipp, Austin American-Statesman, 3 Oct. 2024 So the bailiffs returned and locked them out, and a moving crew hauled their belongings to the curb. Mya Frazier, Harper's Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bailiff 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English baillif, bailie, from Anglo-French baillif, from bail power, authority, office, from baillier to govern, administer, from Medieval Latin bajulare to care for, support, from Latin, to carry a burden — more at bail entry 3

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bailiff was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bailiff

Cite this Entry

“Bailiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bailiff. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

bailiff

noun
bai·​liff ˈbā-ləf How to pronounce bailiff (audio)
1
: any of various officials
especially : a minor officer of some U.S. courts usually serving as a messenger or doorkeeper
2
chiefly British : one who manages an estate or farm

Legal Definition

bailiff

noun
bai·​liff ˈbā-ləf How to pronounce bailiff (audio)
: an officer of some courts in the U.S. whose duties usually include keeping order in the courtroom and guarding prisoners or jurors in deliberation
Etymology

Anglo-French, steward, king's official, from bail stewardship, custody, handing over see bail

More from Merriam-Webster on bailiff

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