sheep

noun

plural sheep
Synonyms of sheepnext
often attributive
1
: any of various hollow-horned typically gregarious ruminant mammals (genus Ovis) related to the goats but stockier and lacking a beard in the male
specifically : one (O. aries) long domesticated especially for its flesh and wool
2
a
: a timid defenseless creature
b
: a timid docile person
especially : one easily influenced or led
3
: leather prepared from the skins of sheep : sheepskin

Examples of sheep in a Sentence

he came to see that the members of the cult were sheep who naively went along with whatever their leader dictated
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.
Flockhill, a working sheep station in New Zealand with top-notch food and accommodations, says guests rank its farm tours, which include shadowing the shepherds and viewing lambing and shearing, as the highlight of their stay. Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2026 Archroma presented FiberColors, a range of dyes that are synthesized with a minimum of 50 percent wool waste, specifically fleeces that sheep farmers would otherwise pay to dispose of. Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2026 The work, collected by Yves Saint Laurent and Paul Bergé before drawing the interest of Karl Lagerfeld, Peter Marino, and Tom Ford, offers a fantasy of les enfants laughing while perched on one of Lalanne’s woolly sheep in a sprawling Parisian apartment, Right Bank parents with Left Bank kids. David Lê, Curbed, 20 Apr. 2026 Think of him like a modern Indiana Jones, with an eclectic résumé that primes him to wrangle unusual, unforgettable trips; Cookson has worked as everything from a horseback safari guide to a sheep-station jackeroo to a Goldman Sachs banker. The Editors, Robb Report, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sheep

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English scēap; akin to Old High German scāf sheep

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sheep was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sheep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheep. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

sheep

noun
plural sheep
1
: any of various cud-chewing mammals that are stockier than the related goats and lack a beard in the male
especially : one raised for its wool, skin, or flesh
2
: a weak helpless person who is easily led

More from Merriam-Webster on sheep

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster