herder

noun

herd·​er ˈhər-dər How to pronounce herder (audio)
: 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.
On a small island off the coast of Vietnam, a cow herder paused near a rice field and noticed a brown and yellow creature hidden under the grass. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2025 While poaching and a loss of natural prey also contribute to the snow leopard’s decline, communities are working to foster peaceful coexistence between herders and wildlife. Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2025 Past analyses of cave paintings and animal remains found at archaeological sites across the Sahara have suggested its inhabitants were pastoralists who herded sheep, goats or cattle, prompting some researchers to hypothesize the herders spread from the Near East where farming originated. Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025 Alta follows, where guests can take an excursion to visit a Sámi village and learn about the Indigenous and semi-nomadic reindeer herders. Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 15 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Herder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herder. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Biographical Definition

Herder

biographical name

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

More from Merriam-Webster on herder

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