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
Under the Zagros Mountains outside Shiraz, a family of Iranian nomads and their reticent sons investigate the disappearance of twelve sheep while navigating their flock through the modern city of poets in this dreamy documentary.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
The safari park, known for its adorable one-on-one encounters, also has a petting zoo full of goats, otters, sheep, cows and lemurs.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Lanolin is a deeply moisturizing oil naturally occurring in sheep's wool, humanely (and cruelty-free) sourced by Australian sheep farmers.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
It had been claimed that Richard had reported a number of sheep stolen from his property shortly before his death, per the outlet.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 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.
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
The safari park, known for its adorable one-on-one encounters, also has a petting zoo full of goats, otters, sheep, cows and lemurs.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026
Lanolin is a deeply moisturizing oil naturally occurring in sheep's wool, humanely (and cruelty-free) sourced by Australian sheep farmers.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
It had been claimed that Richard had reported a number of sheep stolen from his property shortly before his death, per the outlet.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 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 19 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
