shaven

Shaven is the past participle of the verb shave and is used primarily as an adjective to describe someone or something that has had hair removed. It commonly appears in phrases such as a shaven head or a shaven face, and in compound adjectives like clean-shaven, which denotes a lack of facial hair. Shaven can also apply to fur or hair on animals or objects that have been trimmed or removed.

In modern usage, the default verb form for the simple past is shaved, and the past participle in many verb constructions is also shaved. Shaven survives mainly in descriptive phrases and certain fixed expressions, often conveying a more formal or traditional tone. The term is productive in describing appearances, grooming standards, or regulatory requirements that specify removal of hair, such as in some industrial or clinical settings.

Etymologically, shaven is derived from the verb shave and has retained a distinct participial form in English, though its use as a dynamic past participle is less common in everyday speech. It remains a recognized though minority form in standard English, particularly in adjectives and in stylistic contexts where a more archaic or formal feel is desired.

See also: shaving, shaved, unshaven, hair removal, grooming.