bailiff Definition
- 1an officer of the court who is responsible for keeping order and executing judgments
- 2a person who is responsible for managing the land and property of another, especially in feudal times
Using bailiff: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bailiff" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The bailiff escorted the defendant out of the courtroom.
Example
The bailiff served the eviction notice to the tenant.
Example
The lord's bailiff collected rent from the tenants.
bailiff Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with bailiff
bailiff's sale
a public auction of goods or property seized by a bailiff to pay off a debt
Example
The bailiff's sale of the debtor's possessions raised enough money to pay off the outstanding debt.
bailiff's warrant
a legal document issued by a court authorizing a bailiff to take possession of someone's property to satisfy a debt
Example
The bailiff's warrant allowed the officer to seize the debtor's car to pay off the outstanding debt.
bailiff's lien
a legal claim on someone's property that allows a bailiff to sell it to pay off a debt
Example
The bailiff's lien on the debtor's house allowed the officer to sell it to pay off the outstanding debt.
Origins of bailiff
from Old French 'baillif', from Latin 'baiulivus', meaning 'carrier'
Summary: bailiff in Brief
A 'bailiff' [ˈbeɪlɪf] is an officer of the court responsible for maintaining order and enforcing judgments. It can also refer to a person who manages the land and property of another, especially in feudal times. Examples include 'The bailiff escorted the defendant out of the courtroom' and 'The lord's bailiff collected rent from the tenants.' Phrases like 'bailiff's sale' and 'bailiff's warrant' refer to legal documents and actions taken by a bailiff to collect debts.