John Doe

noun

Synonyms of John Doenext
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
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 the instance that fueled the witness-dissuasion conviction, a teen boy, John Doe 2 reportedly suffered a serious head injury after drunkenly hanging from O’Connor’s SUV — driven by another teen — then falling during a joyride in the high school parking lot. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 26 May 2026 Jason Statham’s Bourne style action pic John Doe is said to include a nice twist and is in the $80M range. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 May 2026 Shopping is as much about browsing as buying, with Fisher noting favorites like The Spotty Dog Books & Ale, John Doe Records, Magic Hill Mercantile, Clove & Creek, and the ever-popular Antique Warehouse. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 8 May 2026 The listed attorney for the John Doe, who previously spoke to The Daily Mail, did not respond to an email seeking further comment. David Chiu, PEOPLE, 1 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for John Doe

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of John Doe was in 1593

Cite this Entry

“John Doe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/John%20Doe. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.

Kids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster