# Shepard

/ˈʃɛpɝd/ (US) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shepard
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

a person whose job is to take care of sheep. You use this word for someone who watches over the animals and keeps them safe.

For teachers: a person who tends, herds, and guards sheep. Often used metaphorically to describe a leader who guides a group of people.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the shepard" but "the shepherd" — Learners often misspell the word as 'shepard' because of the pronunciation, but it is spelled with 'herd' at the end.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used as a metaphor for spiritual or political leaders; the spelling 'shepherd' is standard, while 'shepard' is a frequent misspelling or surname.

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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.