John Doe Definition & Meaning

American

British

Idioms

Examples

Synonyms John Doe American

noun

1. an anonymous, average man.

2. a fictitious name used in legal proceedings for a male party whose true name is not known.

3. of or for an unknown person; using the name John Doe to stand for an unknown person.

   The judge issued a John Doe warrant so the police could arrest the culprit when they identified him.

4. an unidentified man.

   The police were looking for a John Doe.

John Doe British

noun

1. See Doe

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 John Doe Idioms

1. Also, John Q. Public ; Joe Blow ; Joe Doakes ; Joe Zilch . An average undistinguished man; also, the average citizen. For example, This television show is just right for a John Doe , or It's up to John Q. Public to go to the polls and vote . Originally used from the 13th century on legal documents as an alias to protect a witness, John Doe acquired the sense of “ordinary person” in the 1800s. The variants date from the 1900s. Also see Joe six-pack .

2. Also, Jane Doe . An unknown individual, as in The police found a John Doe lying on the street last night , or The judge issued a warrant for the arrest of the perpetrators, Jane Doe no. 1 and Jane Doe no. 2 . [Second half of 1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Look for X’s John Doe as a purveyor of bootleg caviar.

From Los Angeles Times

The motion described John Doe 1 as a more recent employee, who was hired in 2013 to detail the couple’s cars and other related services.

From Los Angeles Times

“You’re going to be a Jane Doe or a John Doe,” Morrow told potential clients in a video posted to the firm’s TikTok page last year.

From Los Angeles Times

In one episode, featuring a fine performance by John Doe from the band X, he survives by telling a story in order to prove that he’s a writer.

From Los Angeles Times

He was arraigned as “John Doe” in an early-morning courtroom session convened without advance word to the press or public, with the goal of avoiding “another Dallas.”

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.