shepherd

1 of 2

noun

shep·​herd ˈshe-pərd 

1

: a person who tends sheep

2

: pastor

3

: german shepherd

shepherd

2 of 2

verb

shepherded; shepherding; shepherds

transitive verb

1

: to tend as a shepherd

2

: to guide or guard in the manner of a shepherd

shepherded the bill through Congress

Synonyms of shepherd

Verb

• guide
• coach
• mentor

Examples of shepherd in a Sentence

Verb

She carefully shepherded the children across the street.

They shepherded the bill through Congress.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These include German shepherds, boxers, Pembroke Welsh corgis, Chesapeake Bay retrievers, Rhodesian ridgebacks, and Bernese mountain dogs. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

Top pick FURminator Deshedding Tool is a great brush for dog breeds that shed, such as Labrador retrievers, huskies or German shepherds. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025

Verb

Abraham Lincoln, the president who shepherded the country through the Civil War, was added to the coin in 1909, commemorating his 100th birthday. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025

He is known for shepherding some of television’s most enduring franchises including The Sopranos, The Office, Glee, 30 Rock, Rick and Morty, and ER. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sheepherde, from Old English scēaphyrde, from scēap sheep + hierde herdsman; akin to Old English heord herd

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1822, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing shepherd

• Anatolian shepherd
• Australian shepherd
• English shepherd
• German shepherd
• shepherd dog
• shepherd's check
• shepherd's pie
• shepherd's purse

Rhymes for shepherd

• leopard
• peppered

Kids Definition

shepherd

1 of 2 noun

shep·​herd ˈshep-ərd 

1

: a person who takes care of sheep

2

: german shepherd

shepherd

2 of 2 verb

: to care for as or as if a shepherd