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.
Such images urge an ironic interpretation of the show’s title, “Precious Moments,” which refers to a line of collectible, often Christian-themed figurines that depict cute, mostly white children with doe eyes and oversized heads.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2026
The “Christmas magic” that allows the doe to fly does not work on other creatures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 4, 2025
"Walking through the woods, I spotted this roe doe grazing the foliage," says Walker-Nix.
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2024
Duntsova stresses she doe not see herself as an opposition politician, but one motivated by “human, usual, ordinary ethical values.”
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 10, 2023
She laughs—and suddenly, she’s all doe eyes and hesitation.
From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli
Four startups, including one from a separate DOE program, say they have achieved criticality, or self-sustaining nuclear reactions, with their reactor designs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
That 70 million barrels might be the minimum operation levels based on technical considerations, but the DOE seems to “assume optimal operations,” said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
As of December, the DOE estimated that the SPR’s current major maintenance backlog would cost about $230 million to address, though this didn’t reflect the full scope of the reserve’s needs, GAO said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
The authors note that additional scientific concerns have been raised about other parts of the DOE report, including its treatment of climate change detection and attribution.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 2, 2026
In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule.
From The 2007 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
It might read something like, “XYZ Financial for benefit of the John Doe IRA.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 19, 2026
Doe, which hasn’t received much attention but got federal courts out of the business of hearing claims for alleged violations of international law.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Doe opinion, what does this mean for Haitian and Syrian nationals who currently have TPS?
From Slate ● Jun. 26, 2026
Doe External link, upheld the administration’s authority to end deportation protection for Haitians and Syrians.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
"Poor thing. The bed's ready for him upstairs. There's his chart. He's Manhattan Doe for now until he can tell us his name."
From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi
Many other homes were more expensive and Richard is happy there, but Diane does not want to reach the point where she has to sell the family home where she lives to fund his care.
From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026
"If we don't understand what climate change, ocean warming or acidification does to coral ecosystems, there is a chance we're going to lose them," Ravasi said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
It doesn’t come on a school-issued bun, nor does it come with the staining might of tomato sauce and ground beef.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
“Both things are true: I am responsible for what I did. Power does not distribute consequences evenly.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
It makes sense; he rarely does what I ask.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
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.
