• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechBest Companies

Merriam-Webster Cites Apple Fans to Describe ‘Sheeple’

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
May 1, 2017, 9:42 AM ET

Apple fans have been called a lot of things over the years, but now it’s being called out by Merriam-Webster.

The iconic dictionary source last week announced that the word “sheeple” is now officially an English word. In its dictionary, Merriam-Webster defines sheeple as “people who are docile, compliant, or easily influenced: people likened to sheep.”

Of course, sheeple has been a term used on the Internet for years to describe people who, in general, will loyally follow a person, company, or cause without necessarily considering other arguments. On the Internet, it’s generally considered an insult. It’s also been used to describe Apple fans in the past—something Merriam-Webster didn’t ignore.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

In an example of how to use sheeple in a sentence, Merriam-Webster cited CNN reporter Doug Criss, who has used the term sheeple in 2015 to describe Apple fans.

“Apple’s (AAPL) debuted a battery case for the juice-sucking iPhone—an ungainly lumpy case the sheeple will happily shell out $99 for,” Criss wrote at the time, according to Merriam-Webster. The dictionary-maker also cited a quote about sheeply “obeying authority like livestock.”

The iPhone maker’s fans have long been loud and supportive of the company. Dating back decades, Apple fans have been among the most loyal of any brand in the technology industry. Around the Internet, forums are alive with dedicated Apple fans who will shout down anyone even appearing to be criticizing the company, its late co-founder Steve Jobs, or its products. Tech reporters that have criticized Apple have also met the wrath of Apple’s legion of fans.

Apple fans haven’t only been called sheeple over the years. They’re also commonly called “fanboys,” another term to describe those who love the company without question.

Still, Apple fans are not alone. Other companies, including Nintendo (NTDOY) and Alphabet (GOOGL), all have similarly dedicated fanbases. And like Apple fans, they will often speak out against those who criticize their favored companies. Those fans, however, weren’t mentioned in the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

One other tidbit: According to an Oxford Dictionary listing, the term sheeple actually originated in the 1940s, decades before Apple was founded. For its part, Oxford doesn’t mention any companies in its definition.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

NewslettersTerm Sheet
The rise and uncertain future of $29 billion AI coding startup Cursor
By Allie GarfinkleMarch 24, 2026
35 minutes ago
Bill Powers smiles at the camera
AIInsurance
Exclusive: Cambridge Mobile Telematics secures $350 million from TPG, Allianz to make driving safer
By Lily Mae LazarusMarch 24, 2026
47 minutes ago
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta.
NewslettersFortune Tech
The message Mark Zuckerberg is sending with his AI sidekick
By Matthew HeimerMarch 24, 2026
1 hour ago
homes
Real EstateHousing
Nearly three in five Americans think AI will push homeownership even further out of reach
By Jake AngeloMarch 24, 2026
2 hours ago
Asiagrab
Grab expands to Taiwan, its first non-Southeast Asian market, with $600 million Foodpanda deal
By Angelica AngMarch 24, 2026
4 hours ago
stephany
Commentarydisruption
AI’s disruption is a choice, not a forecast
By Alex StephanyMarch 24, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

Commentary
The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
21 hours ago
Personal Finance
Current price of gold as of March 23, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
22 hours ago
Economy
It took 200 years for national debt to hit $1 trillion. Annual interest alone now exceeds that—a 'crushing legacy we must reverse,' says budget chair
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
24 hours ago
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of March 23, 2026
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
23 hours ago
Health
Trump has TACO'd again, this time in Iran, sparking a $1.7 trillion stock market rally in minutes, even as peace talks are in question
By Fortune EditorsMarch 23, 2026
20 hours ago
Success
Dairy Queen CEO says he learned from Warren Buffett being the 'smartest person in the world' isn't the most important attribute for success
By Fortune EditorsMarch 21, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.