black sheep

noun

: a disfavored or disreputable member of a group

Examples of black sheep in a Sentence

She was the black sheep of the family.

Recent Examples on the Web

Like the Zumwalts, the two Constellations could end up as black sheep in the US fleet. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Nov. 2025

For the first two-to-three years we (mostly me) were known inside LVMH as black sheep (aka losers). — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 8 May 2026

The record has always been looked at as the black sheep of the two albums, the more experimental foray that embraced the coldness of synths on a stylistic side quest. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 May 2026

Phoenix’s Bobby is the black sheep of the family to Wahlberg’s cop and Duvall’s NYPD deputy chief. — Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1640, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for black sheep

• asleep
• upkeep
• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap

Kids Definition

black sheep

noun

: a person having a bad reputation in a group with a good reputation