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• shepherd
  shepherd

  noun

  a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep.
• Shepherd
  Shepherd

  noun

  a male given name.

shepherd

¹ American  

[shep-erd] / ˈʃɛp ərd /

noun

1. a person who herds, tends, and guards sheep.

2. a person who protects, guides, or watches over a person or group of people.

   Synonyms:

   keeper, defender, guardian, protector

3. a member of the clergy.

4. the Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

5. sheepdog.

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verb (used with object)

1. to tend or guard as a shepherd.

   to shepherd the flock.

2. to watch over carefully.

Shepherd ² American  

[shep-erd] / ˈʃɛp ərd /

noun

1. a male given name.

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shepherd ¹ British  

/ ˈʃɛpəd /

noun

1. Female equivalent: shepherdess.  a person employed to tend sheep

2. a person, such as a clergyman, who watches over or guides a group of people

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verb

1. to guide or watch over in the manner of a shepherd

2. Australian rules football to prevent opponents from tackling (a member of one's own team) by blocking their path

Shepherd ² British  

noun

1. astronomy a small moon of (e.g.) Saturn orbiting close to the rings and partly responsible for ring stability

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Other Word Forms

• shepherdless
  adjective
• shepherdlike
  adjective
• undershepherd
  noun
• unshepherded
  adjective
• unshepherding
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of shepherd

before 1050; Middle English shepherde, Old English scēphyrde. See sheep, herd ²

Explanation

A shepherd is a person who herds flocks or groups of animals. If you traveled to Tibet, you might see a yak shepherd. Shepherd comes from the Old English sceaphierde: sheepherder. Such a person protects sheep from animals that would attack them, keeps them from wandering, and otherwise takes care of the flock. The word is also a verb that describes care of a group — sheep, other animals, even people. You might shepherd your herd of goats, or shepherd your younger siblings through the transition from elementary to middle school.

Example Sentences

Experts from the marine conservation group Sea Shepherd also warned that the whale is suffering from a skin disease.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

Mum-of-three Dominique Shepherd, who lives near Thirsk, said she "wanted to cry" when she found out the price of topping up her oil tank had doubled.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

I have two dogs: a 120-pound Great Pyrenees-Border Collie-German Shepherd mix, and then at the other end of the spectrum, a seven-pound poodle mix.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

Sherfane Rutherford, who couldn't capitalise on being dropped on three, Rovman Powell, and Matthew Forde joined the procession back to the dressing room before Shepherd and Holder came together in the 11th over.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

I remembered to lift up my lips, which Mr Shepherd says to do when you meet somebody new because it means you can be their friend.

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd

Related Words

• herder
• herdsman