Also d.o.e. depends on experience; depending on experience: used in stating a salary range in help-wanted ads.
(in Canada and, formerly, in Britain) Department of the Environment
(in the US) Department of Energy
law (formerly) the plaintiff in a fictitious action, Doe versus Roe, to test a point of law See also Roe
an unknown or unidentified male or female person
First recorded before 1000; Middle English do, Old English dā; cognate with Danish daa; akin to Old English dēon “to suck”
A doe is a deer, a female deer. Doe can also refer to the female of other animals, but it’s usually a deer. You might spot a doe in the spring, walking through the woods with her babies. There are several four-legged mammals whose females are called does, including goats, antelopes, and even rabbits. The males are called bucks. The words doe and buck are like woman and man for the furry set. Oddly, you can also refer to female guinea pigs, mice, and weasels as does, although doe usually means a deer. The word comes from the Old English da, or "female deer," which probably stems from a Celtic root.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fritz Miot and Laila Doe are two foreign nationals who have lived in the United States for decades thanks to the TPS program.
From Slate • Jun. 25, 2026
Doe External link, upheld the administration’s authority to end deportation protection for Haitians and Syrians.
From Barron's • Jun. 25, 2026
The lawsuit argues both platforms were defectively designed and engaged in false marketing about safety for young users and so should be held liable for the harm young John Doe came to.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Introducing infant Jane Doe at the start of the season created major logistical challenges.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“I believe you have a John Doe? He may be my son,” Nali said.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
