Well, Merriam-Webster this week made the slang term official, describing it as “people who are docile, compliant, or easily influenced.” So, how might one use it in a sentence?
On Merriam-Webster’s website, there are two examples, one of which mentions Apple mania:
Apple debuted a battery case for the juice-sucking iPhone—an ungainly lumpy case the sheeple will happily shell out $99 for.—Doug Criss
The term actually dates back several decades—all the way back to 1945, in fact. It doesn’t just apply to Apple fans—you can just as easily use it to describe followers of Google and Microsoft.
Whichever company you choose to follow, it’s always worth being cognizant of doing so with a level head and in moderation. I mean, Apple’s “ungainly lumpy case” for the iPhone is admittedly a little ridiculous, especially at $99.
If you’re a staunch defender of such a product, well, you might be a sheeple.
Now, there’s no guarantee it’ll be an acceptable term in the next college term paper you write, but you can use it knowing it’s now an official word in the English language.
