sheep

noun

ˈshēp 

plural sheep

often attributive

1

: any of various hollow-horned typically gregarious ruminant mammals (genus Ovis) related to the goats but stockier and lacking a beard in the male

specifically : one (O. aries) long domesticated especially for its flesh and wool

2

a

: a timid defenseless creature

b

: a timid docile person

especially : one easily influenced or led

3

: leather prepared from the skins of sheep : sheepskin

Synonyms

• innocent
• angel
• lamb

Examples of sheep in a Sentence

he came to see that the members of the cult were sheep who naively went along with whatever their leader dictated

Recent Examples on the Web

Gus disappeared while playing in the sand at his family’s sheep farm, which is located in a remote area about 25 miles from Yunta, a town in South Australia, 7NEWS reported. —Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025

Months before the first snow beckons skiers, sheep and goats are hitting the slopes in Vermont. —Jim Edwards, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025

The study team made use of somatic cell nuclear transfer, a technique that was famously used to clone a sheep named Dolly in 1997. —Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025

Instead of sheep and cattle, what not human babies? —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English scēap; akin to Old High German scāf sheep

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sheep

• aoudad sheep
• Barbary sheep
• bighorn sheep
• black sheep
• blue sheep
• Dall sheep
• Dall's sheep
• fat-tailed sheep
• mountain sheep
• Rocky Mountain sheep
• separate the sheep from the goats
• sheep fescue
• sheep ked
• sheep laurel
• sheep's eye
• sheep sorrel
• sheep walk
• wolf in sheep's clothing

Rhymes for sheep

• beep
• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap
• seep
• sleep

Kids Definition

sheep

noun

ˈshēp 

plural sheep

1

: any of various cud-chewing mammals that are stockier than the related goats and lack a beard in the male

especially : one raised for its wool, skin, or flesh

2

: a weak helpless person who is easily led