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 of sheep

• 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

The animals sent back included 11 lemurs, an albino Burmese python, giraffes, a pack of sheep, a pair of sacred ibises, two llamas, tamarins, a kookaburra, a gibbon, capuchins, several parrots, three ground hornbills, three cockatoos, a serval, a Poitou donkey, and a macaw. —Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025

This week, the industry is gathering for the second annual Wool Exchange, an event convened by Central Saint Martins and British Wool, the latter an organization that collects, grades and sells wool on behalf of over 30,000 UK sheep farmers (Peregrine is a British Wool licensee). —Kirsty McGregor, Vogue, 27 Nov. 2025

Now, the Gentle Barn has more than 200 rescue animals from turkeys and chickens to sheep, cows and goats. —Jackie Montalvo, NBC news, 27 Nov. 2025

Offered in either a black or cream shade, the shoes are crafted out of patent leather with genuine sheep leather lining for good measure. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 24 Nov. 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