Jane Doe

noun

: a woman who is a party to legal proceedings and whose true name is unknown or withheld

Examples of Jane Doe 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.
In December 2023, a new suit was filed by plaintiffs Jane Doe, a Kentucky woman using a pseudonym to conceal her identity, Planned Parenthood and the ACLU, against the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Sep. 2025 Police are working with the cold case/missing persons unit in Cook County, Illinois, for the Jane Doe case, and the state police genealogy lab for the other one. Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025 The woman, who filed a lawsuit under the pseudonym Jane Doe, accused Almanzar of assault, battery and negligence. Conor Murray, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025 The family, identified in court documents as 15-year-old John Doe H.M. and his guardian Jane Doe R.S., allege H.M. was targeted by a predator on the platform. Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Jane Doe

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Jane Doe was in 1703

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Cite this Entry

“Jane Doe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jane%20Doe. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

Jane Doe

noun
: a woman who is a party to legal proceedings and whose true name is unknown or withheld
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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