noun
sheepfold
SHEEP-fohld
Sheepfold (noun) means an enclosure built to keep sheep in. Example: “The farmer built a wooden sheepfold to keep the flock safe overnight.”
noun
1
An enclosure built to keep sheep in.
"The farmer built a wooden sheepfold to keep the flock safe overnight."
"The dog herded the ewes back into the sheepfold before dark."
"A low stone wall marked the edge of the old sheepfold."
How to use sheepfold
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pen or enclosure for keeping sheep together.
When to use it
It's a plain, literal word with no negative or formal connotations.
Memory tip
Both parts are stressed evenly in writing, but say it as one word with the main stress on 'sheep'.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
build a sheepfold
wooden sheepfold
stone sheepfold
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sheepfold.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The farmer built a wooden _____ to keep the flock safe overnight.
Etymology
Sheepfold comes from the Middle English word shepefald, which may trace back to a Late Old English phrase meaning 'sheep's fold'. It is simply sheep joined to fold, the word for an enclosure.
Synonyms
View more →
sheep pen
fold
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does sheepfold mean?
A sheepfold is an enclosure for keeping sheep, or, less often, the flock of sheep itself.
Is a sheepfold the same as a sheep pen?
Yes, in its main sense a sheepfold is essentially a sheep pen, an enclosure built to hold sheep.
Where does the word sheepfold come from?
It comes from Middle English shepefald, formed by joining sheep to fold, meaning an enclosure.
What is the meaning of sheepfold?
"sheepfold" (noun) means an enclosure built to keep sheep in.
