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
There’s the Basque population in Boise, Idaho, whose ancestors traded a mountainous region between France and Spain for the American West in the hopes of finding gold but later turned to sheep herding.
—
Albert Sun,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
The same scalpel or bone saw that cut a human also cleft sheep, horses, pigs and other animals in distress.
—
Katherine Ott,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
Bedlington terriers have a curly fur coat which looks like sheep wool.
—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Rawlinna and Kalgoorlie Travelers headed westbound stop at Rawlinna, the country’s largest sheep station, for an evening under the stars and an alfresco dinner, weather permitting.
—
Maryam Siddiqi,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 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.
Albert Sun,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
The same scalpel or bone saw that cut a human also cleft sheep, horses, pigs and other animals in distress.
—
Katherine Ott,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
Bedlington terriers have a curly fur coat which looks like sheep wool.
—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
2 July 2026
Rawlinna and Kalgoorlie Travelers headed westbound stop at Rawlinna, the country’s largest sheep station, for an evening under the stars and an alfresco dinner, weather permitting.
—
Maryam Siddiqi,
Travel + Leisure,
30 June 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 5 Jul. 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
