Groups of animals, especially grazing mammals, that live and move together; can also refer to large groups of people moving together.
From Old English heord, related to German Herde, from Proto-Germanic herdo meaning 'flock, herd.' The root connects to words meaning 'to guard' or 'to watch over,' reflecting the pastoral care of livestock.
Herd behavior isn't just animal instinct—it's a fundamental social phenomenon that explains everything from stock market bubbles to fashion trends. The same neurological mechanisms that keep wildebeest together for protection also drive human conformity and crowd psychology.
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