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

In fact, signs of discontent don’t get more obvious than the assassination attempt Pharazôn faces in the episode’s opening scene, one staged by Isildur (Maxim Baldry) and a companion named Haleth (Karl Queensborough) posing as a shepherd. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2026

At the shepherd’s screening a year later, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said the film reinforced his view that canceling the plan had been the right call. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2026

Verb

Latcham shepherded such mega MCU franchises as Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Spider-Man and The Avengers. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 9 Nov. 2026

Askar sought to repeal and replace the policy, which was shepherded through Congress by former President Barack Obama in an effort to provide more health care coverage to Americans, due to increasing costs. — Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

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