shorn: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Agricultural
Quick answer
What does “shorn” mean?
The past participle of 'shear', meaning to have been cut or trimmed, typically of wool, hair, or fleece.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The past participle of 'shear', meaning to have been cut or trimmed, typically of wool, hair, or fleece.
Used figuratively to describe being stripped, deprived, or rid of something (e.g., power, glory, possessions).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or form. 'Shorn' is the standard past participle in both, though 'sheared' is sometimes used in non-standard or specific technical American contexts.
Connotations
Carries a slightly formal or archaic tone in both varieties. The literal sense is neutral; the figurative sense can imply a forceful or unwelcome removal.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both. The literal use is more common in regions with sheep farming.
Grammar
How to Use “shorn” in a Sentence
[Subject] be shorn of [Object][Subject] appear/feel/look shorn[Object] have been shorn from [Source]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shorn” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sheep were shorn last week in the Yorkshire dales.
- He has shorn his beard for the summer.
American English
- The alpacas were shorn on the farm in Oregon.
- She has shorn her long hair for charity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used figuratively: 'The company was shorn of its assets during the takeover.'
Academic
Used in historical/literary analysis: 'The king, shorn of his authority, became a mere figurehead.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might appear in news or descriptive writing about farming.
Technical
Standard term in animal husbandry and textile industries for wool removal.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shorn”
- Using 'shorn' as a simple past tense (incorrect: 'He shorn the sheep'; correct: 'He *sheared* the sheep').
- Using 'shorn' without 'of' in figurative contexts (awkward: 'He felt shorn his dignity'; correct: 'He felt shorn *of* his dignity').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary literal use is for wool or fleece (sheep, alpacas), it can be used for human hair, grass, hedges, and figuratively for abstract qualities like power or dignity.
'Shorn' is the standard past participle used adjectivally or in perfect tenses. 'Sheared' is the simple past tense and sometimes a non-standard past participle, especially in American technical use for metal cutting.
It's relatively formal and specific. In everyday talk about haircuts, 'cut' or 'shaved' is more common. 'Shorn' is best for descriptive, literary, or farming contexts.
Use 'shorn of' to mean 'stripped of' or 'deprived of.' It must be followed by the thing that has been removed: e.g., 'a man shorn of his pride.'
The past participle of 'shear', meaning to have been cut or trimmed, typically of wool, hair, or fleece.
Shorn is usually formal, literary, agricultural in register.
Shorn: in British English it is pronounced /ʃɔːn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃɔːrn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “shorn of one's glory”
- “shorn of power”
- “like a shorn lamb”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHEEP that has been SHAVED, leaving it SHORN. Both 'shorn' and 'shaved' start with 'sh'.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSESSIONS ARE COVERINGS / POWER IS A CROWN. To be shorn is to be stripped of a protective or defining layer.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'shorn' CORRECTLY in a figurative sense?