Meeple and Follower are both generic terms in Carcassonne, because the standard meeple is renamed depending on it's function in the game. Meeples are used in many other games and named for their functionality in them also.
In a standard game, any meeple becomes a Highwayman if on a road, a Knight if in a city, and a Farmer if lying in a field. And don't forget the meeple used on the scoring track who really is still just a MEEPLE.