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
The neighborhood/area One of only three lodges on Cerro Guido, the largest estancia in the area, the lodge has access to all the top activities of Torres (a 15-minute drive away) alongside more offbeat, crowd-free outings to ancient burial sites, Jurassic fossil trails, and working sheep farms.
—
Sarah Marshall, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Natural sources of trans fats are found in meat, milk, butter and cheese from ruminant animals — cows, sheep, goats — and are considered by some in the MAHA movement to be healthy.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
The Hays County Youth Livestock Show features more than 400 participants, ages 5 to 18, exhibiting rabbits, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats and cattle.
—Staff Photographer, Austin American Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
Amid the natural splendor, loom Viking burial mounds and archaeological sites—and a lot of sheep.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheep
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Sarah Marshall, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Natural sources of trans fats are found in meat, milk, butter and cheese from ruminant animals — cows, sheep, goats — and are considered by some in the MAHA movement to be healthy.
—Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 20 Jan. 2026
The Hays County Youth Livestock Show features more than 400 participants, ages 5 to 18, exhibiting rabbits, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats and cattle.
—Staff Photographer, Austin American Statesman, 20 Jan. 2026
Amid the natural splendor, loom Viking burial mounds and archaeological sites—and a lot of sheep.
—Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Jan. 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 25 Jan. 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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