herder

noun

herd·​er ˈhər-dər How to pronounce herder (audio)
Synonyms of herdernext
: one that herds
specifically : a person who manages, breeds, or tends to livestock : herdsman sense 1

Examples of herder in a Sentence

the nomadic reindeer herders of Siberia live in reindeer-skin tents
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.
There are also disputes over land and grazing between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities frequently escalate into deadly clashes in the north-central and northwestern part of the country. ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026 These descendants of Kazakh nomadic herders, who once moved freely across the steppe with their animals, now speak of staying put as a mark of strength rather than constraint. Magdalena Stawkowski, The Conversation, 8 Apr. 2026 An Eskimo herder and I went up on a ridge and counted nine wolves about two miles from us. Frank Glaser, Outdoor Life, 1 Apr. 2026 Spend an hour traipsing through flat grass paths on the farm with the owner and goat herder. Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for herder

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of herder was in 1635

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Herder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herder. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

Biographical Definition

Herder

biographical name

Her·​der ˈher-dər How to pronounce Herder (audio)
Johann Gottfried von 1744–1803 German philosopher

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