羊毛是羊亚科动物身上的毛皮纤维。

早于六千年前人类就已经开始用羊毛来编造衣服。考古人员曾在中东一带发现了遗址，证明六千年前中东人已开始使用羊毛作为衣服原料。在古罗马时代，羊毛已开始应用于欧洲，与麻布、皮革一样，为主要纺织原料。

在中世纪以降，英国由于有较发达的牧羊业，成为羊毛的主要产地。后来自十九世纪，英国殖民大洋洲，使大洋洲国家，例如澳大利亚、新西兰，成为羊毛的主要输出国。

Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, angora from rabbits, and other types of wool from camelids.

Wool has several qualities that distinguish it from hair or fur: it is crimped, it is elastic, and it grows in staples (clusters).