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.
The charging documents allege that Cullors trafficked the victim, known in court records as Jane Doe, from August through December 2021. Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 June 2025 Over the decades, several attempts have been made to identify Bone Lake Jane Doe through DNA. Sarah Dahlberg, NBC news, 12 June 2025 Filing this lawsuit — first as Jane Doe, and now as myself — is not an act of revenge. Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 12 June 2025 As prosecutors near the end of their witness list and get ready to rest their case, the victim, using the pseudonym Jane Doe to protect her anonymity, shared her experiences with the defendant over the back half of their three-year relationship. Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 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 5 Jul. 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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