sheep

noun

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

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
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.
The people who brought bronze seem to have come with horses, cattle, and sheep. Veronique Greenwood, Time, 14 Nov. 2025 The eight sheep joined the approximately 50 sheep that have been moved to the upper Blue River from the mine since 2021. John Leos, AZCentral.com, 14 Nov. 2025 The procedure also showed promise in a sheep’s cerebrospinal fluid, indicating it could be used for many other medical applications. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2025 After trials in these models, the team progressed to in vivo demonstrations, successfully navigating microrobots in pigs and through the challenging cerebral fluid of sheep. Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sheep

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sheep was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sheep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheep. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

sheep

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on sheep

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