1
: a party to legal proceedings whose true name is unknown
2
: an average man
Examples of John Doe in a Sentence
to John Doe the most important issues in any election are usually those that affect his wallet
Recent Examples on the Web
The unidentified man was known as Ventura County John Doe (1984) for years, officials said.
—
Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
All the evidence from the blast has been destroyed, and his body, which was registered as a John Doe, has been removed from the morgue.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Smith, the reputed leader of Miami’s John Doe gang, had been sentenced to death after being convicted of murdering four people in Liberty City in the 1990s.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, the serial killer known as John Doe is ritualistically slaying victims by turning the seven deadly sins into symbolic, atrocious murders.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for John Doe
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Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
All the evidence from the blast has been destroyed, and his body, which was registered as a John Doe, has been removed from the morgue.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Smith, the reputed leader of Miami’s John Doe gang, had been sentenced to death after being convicted of murdering four people in Liberty City in the 1990s.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately, the serial killer known as John Doe is ritualistically slaying victims by turning the seven deadly sins into symbolic, atrocious murders.
—Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for John Doe
Cite this Entry
“John Doe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/John%20Doe. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
John Doe
noun
: a person in legal proceedings whose true name is unknown or withheld
Legal Definition
John Doe
noun
: a party to legal proceedings (as a suspect) whose true name is unknown or withheld compare jane roe, richard roe
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