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Definition of shepherd pie
shepherd pie
Plural:shepherd pies
• noun
1
British A traditional British dish consisting of minced or diced lamb or mutton cooked in a savory gravy, topped with a thick layer of mashed potatoes, and baked until golden brown.
Example
"For dinner, we ordered a traditional shepherd pie at the local pub, served with a side of roasted vegetables."
Word Nuance & Usage
Most commonly written and spoken with the possessive as 'shepherd's pie'. Culnary tradition strictly dictates that a shepherd's pie is made with lamb or mutton, while a similar dish made with minced beef is called a cottage pie.
• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shepherd pie. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shepherd-pie