What does shorn mean?
Shorn is an adjective describing something whose hair, wool, or similar covering has been cut short or removed. It most often appears with livestock, especially sheep, but it can also describe a closely shaved head. Figuratively, “shorn of” means deprived of something valuable or necessary: a person may be shorn of hope, confidence, dignity, or resources. The word has a somewhat literary and traditional tone, giving it more force than the plainer “cropped” or “shaven.” It is also the past participle of “shear,” the verb for cutting wool or hair. Understanding this connection helps explain both its literal agricultural use and its metaphorical sense of loss or stripping away.
adjectiveHaving hair, wool, or another covering cut short or removed; in figurative use, deprived of something essential or valuable.
- Having hair, wool, or a similar covering cut short or removed.
- Deprived of something essential, such as money, freedom, hope, or dignity.
- Formerly, cut off or separated from something, especially by force.
"The farmer led a flock of shorn sheep toward the barn."
"She appeared with shorn hair and a calm expression."
"The defeated team was shorn of confidence after the match."
Shorn can mean more than closely cropped: it can also mean stripped of hope, strength, or another vital possession.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does shorn come from?
Shorn derives from Old English, where it developed as the past participle of the verb meaning “to shear.” The modern verb “shear” and the adjective “shorn” therefore share the same Germanic root. In figurative use, the idea of cutting away a covering developed into the sense of being deprived of a possession or essential quality.
Related word forms
How shorn is actually used
Shorn is literary and somewhat formal in contemporary use. It is especially common in expressions such as “shorn of hope” or “shorn of dignity,” where it conveys loss or deprivation.
Easily confused with shorn
Shorn usually describes hair or wool that has been cut short or removed, whereas shaved can describe the act of cutting hair or beard and commonly refers to a smooth-skinned result.