plural sheep
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
Karlee Smith jumped on a quad bike to help herd sheep away from the fast-moving flames on a farm in the town of Gellibrand, a small rural town, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) southwest of Melbourne.
—
Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Hidden in a green valley, with gardens and cows and sheep nearby, a stay at Fowlescombe is a truly immersive experience, where the land, the season, and thoughtful design combine to create a sense of ease and belonging.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The team initially attempted to secure the sheep with a catch pole but couldn't maneuver the equipment beneath the animal's front legs.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
From the late nineteenth century to the nineteen-fifties, the island functioned, in effect, as a company state where, as Pitts observes, the sheep got better treatment than the people, with the pastures as well watered as a golf course.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheep
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Helen Regan, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
Hidden in a green valley, with gardens and cows and sheep nearby, a stay at Fowlescombe is a truly immersive experience, where the land, the season, and thoughtful design combine to create a sense of ease and belonging.
—Joanne Shurvell, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The team initially attempted to secure the sheep with a catch pole but couldn't maneuver the equipment beneath the animal's front legs.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
From the late nineteenth century to the nineteen-fifties, the island functioned, in effect, as a company state where, as Pitts observes, the sheep got better treatment than the people, with the pastures as well watered as a golf course.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheep
Cite this Entry
“Sheep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheep. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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