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
Regular sheep’s wool is insulating and warm, even when wet; however, it’s not designed for performance activities like hiking or running, and tends to be less soft and sometimes itchy.
—
Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2025
The meat appears regularly in accounts of massive cookouts in the 19th century, and smoked lamb or mutton was a favorite at Southern barbecue restaurants until just after World War II, when the consumption of sheep plummeted nationwide.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
The cloning technique was said to be more reliable than the one used to create Dolly the sheep, and provided scientists with greater ability to manipulate the adult donor nucleus and study the roles genes play in aging and disease processes.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
Cromwell described the cooperation and disobedience of a gaggle of ducks, sheep, border collies, horses and other farm animals (most of which were real despite one animatronic sheep and some puppets) behind the scenes of the heartwarming film.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 21 July 2025
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.
Lauren Breedlove, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2025
The meat appears regularly in accounts of massive cookouts in the 19th century, and smoked lamb or mutton was a favorite at Southern barbecue restaurants until just after World War II, when the consumption of sheep plummeted nationwide.
—Robert F. Moss, Southern Living, 23 July 2025
The cloning technique was said to be more reliable than the one used to create Dolly the sheep, and provided scientists with greater ability to manipulate the adult donor nucleus and study the roles genes play in aging and disease processes.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 July 2025
Cromwell described the cooperation and disobedience of a gaggle of ducks, sheep, border collies, horses and other farm animals (most of which were real despite one animatronic sheep and some puppets) behind the scenes of the heartwarming film.
—Sabrina Weiss, People.com, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sheep
Cite this Entry
“Sheep.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheep. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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
Share