sheeple

[ shee-puhl ]

plural noun

1. people who are like sheep in being meek, conforming, or easily led:

   Maintaining fear, division, and hate is a priority—sheeple are easier to herd when frightened.

sheeple

/ ˈʃiːpəl /

noun

1. informal.
   people who tend to follow the majority in matters of opinion, taste, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheeple¹

First recorded in 1945–50; sheep ( def ) + (peop)le ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of sheeple¹

C20: from sheep + people

Example Sentences

There, the game-changing promise of that personal computer was to smash Big Brother’s authoritarian control over the sheeple.

From Slate

Blowing smoke about how you have superior knowledge to the "sheeple" because you heard a conspiracy theory on the internet?

From Salon

Right wing politics not only draws such people in, but once in, the rhetoric of conservatism convinces them even further that they know better than the "sheeple."

From Salon

Their conspiracy theories offer them a way to feel special like they are privy to insider knowledge that the "sheeple" are too stupid or ignorant to understand.

From Salon

The writers behind the climate-skeptical Doomberg newsletter echoed one Review staffer’s conspiracy theory that there was some sudden, coordinated effort to indoctrinate the American sheeple, perhaps on behalf of the heat pump lobby.

From Slate