# Jane Roe

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/jane-roe
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The female equivalent of Richard Roe.

## Examples

- The legal form uses the name Jane Roe for the unknown woman.
- In the court document, the unidentified female plaintiff is referred to as Jane Roe to protect her privacy.
- When the identity of a female defendant remains unknown during legal proceedings, the court assigns her the placeholder name Jane Roe.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.