herder

noun

herd·​er ˈhər-dər How to pronounce herder (audio)
: one that herds
specifically : a person who manages, breeds, or tends to livestock : herdsman sense 1

Examples of herder in a Sentence

the nomadic reindeer herders of Siberia live in reindeer-skin tents
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Genuine, moral human equality is certainly not self-evident to Taliban-supporting Islamist goat herders in Afghanistan. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025 An elderly goat herder falls victim to a scam promising financial reparations for her father, who was never paid for his service in WWII. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 24 June 2025 The company expects to turn the sprawling novel series about a group of cattle herders into a film or TV show. Brent Lang, Variety, 4 June 2025 During the transition to an open market under the new democracy, coupled with the low demand for camel products like milk and wool, herders found their camels were worth more for their meat. Matt Dutile, Travel + Leisure, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for herder

Word History

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of herder was in 1635

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Cite this Entry

“Herder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/herder. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Biographical Definition

Herder

biographical name

Her·​der ˈher-dər How to pronounce Herder (audio)
Johann Gottfried von 1744–1803 German philosopher

More from Merriam-Webster on herder

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