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Synonyms

shaven

American  
[shey-vuhn] / ˈʃeɪ vən /

verb

  1. a past participle of shave.


adjective

  1. closely trimmed.

shaven British  
/ ˈʃeɪvən /

adjective

    1. closely shaved or tonsured

    2. ( in combination )

      clean-shaven

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • unshaven adjective

Etymology

Origin of shaven

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Washbourne, who has links to Herefordshire, is described as white, male, about 5ft 6ins, slim, with brown hair and is clean shaven.

From BBC • Jan. 6, 2026

The Sheriff’s Department is looking for the suspect, who was described as a Black male, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 180 pounds and with a shaven head.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2025

She had spotted her son in the image, taken from above, of a sea of shaven heads belonging to men in white T-shirts sat in long, straight rows.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2025

And then there are the images of the migrants deported to a notorious El Salvador prison, shackled one behind the other in prison garb, their heads bowed and shaven.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2025

Flames had been tattooed across his cheeks and chin and shaven head to make a bright red mask that crackled about his eyes and coiled down and around his lipless mouth.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin