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
While originally used as a herd dog for sheep prior to the 20th century, in modern times they are used in search and rescue, police operations and guide dogs for the blind.
—
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Agriculture in Patagonia, the southern tip of the region, dies off — the local sheep get eye cancer at a rate that makes extensive farming impossible.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Cabrales, a Spanish blue cheese, features a unique blend of cow, sheep, and goat's milk, resulting in a pungent, complex flavor and crumbly texture.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
Further, forcing suburban commuter cities to sit at the table with the city of San Diego controlling 42 of 100 votes on the SANDAG board is like two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
—John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sheep
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.
Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2026
Agriculture in Patagonia, the southern tip of the region, dies off — the local sheep get eye cancer at a rate that makes extensive farming impossible.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Cabrales, a Spanish blue cheese, features a unique blend of cow, sheep, and goat's milk, resulting in a pungent, complex flavor and crumbly texture.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 31 Mar. 2026
Further, forcing suburban commuter cities to sit at the table with the city of San Diego controlling 42 of 100 votes on the SANDAG board is like two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
—John Franklin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 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 3 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
