linen

1 of 2

adjective

lin·​en ˈli-nən How to pronounce linen (audio)
1
: made of flax
2
: made of or resembling linen

linen

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: cloth made of flax and noted for its strength, coolness, and luster
b
: thread or yarn spun from flax
2
: clothing or household articles made of linen cloth or similar fabric
3
: paper made from linen fibers or with a linen finish

Examples of linen in a Sentence

Noun She washes the linen every week.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
With solid wood legs, a comfortable linen blend material, and a small matching ottoman, this chair is an ideal option for sunrooms, living rooms, and guest rooms. L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 Wheeler doesn’t spend a night away from home without three things: a white-noise app on her phone, an eye mask and an all-natural lavender linen spray. Jaime Stathis, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 On her: Hermès linen overcoat with leather collar, $6,700; Chloé wool turtleneck sweater, $890. Alex Badia, Robb Report, 2 Mar. 2024 For example, Spectrum Resorts, which manages hundreds of vacation rental units on Alabama's Gulf Coast, has begun offering a clean bedding guarantee consisting of washing all linens, including duvet covers, between stays. Christopher Elliott, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Other materials include metal — reflecting her rust-belt origins — and raw silks, linens and cottons. Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2024 The black and white gingham throw pillows add a bold splash of pattern to your couch or bed, and the polyester linen blends perfectly with other modern farmhouse-style materials. Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2024 The campaign highlights its linen fabric and centers around championing originality, self-expression, dance, fashion, and music. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 27 Feb. 2024 Find it on Amazon Turn Your Back on Cotton with These Linen Sheets These linen sheets are effortlessly chic. Claire Rutter, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'linen.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English līnen, from līn flax, from Latin linum flax; akin to Greek linon flax, thread

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of linen was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near linen

Cite this Entry

“Linen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linen. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

linen

noun
lin·​en
ˈlin-ən
1
: smooth strong cloth or yarn made from flax
2
: household articles (as tablecloths or sheets) or clothing (as shirts or underwear) that were once often made of linen
linen adjective

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