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
Your littlest charges will marvel at the size of the camels, tortoises and giraffes lumbering about the zoo’s meandering paths, and then eagerly pet goats and sheep in the farmyard.
—
Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
Buses roll down rural roads where sheep still outnumber cars.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
The moment has been so baked into America's cultural cake that Tea Party Republicans parroted the phrase, not realizing that the film is a satire of sheep mentality and the man who authored it (screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky) was a political lefty.
—Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
The farmer manages a male-only herd of sheep.
—Lisa Gutierrez
march 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheep
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Susan McDonald, The Providence Journal, 26 Mar. 2026
Buses roll down rural roads where sheep still outnumber cars.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026
The moment has been so baked into America's cultural cake that Tea Party Republicans parroted the phrase, not realizing that the film is a satire of sheep mentality and the man who authored it (screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky) was a political lefty.
—Devan Coggan, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
The farmer manages a male-only herd of sheep.
—Lisa Gutierrez
march 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheep
Cite this Entry
“Sheep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheep. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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