linen

linen — noun

1. a type of fabric woven from fibres harvested from flax, valued for being strong,

1.nounB1
Definition

a type of fabric woven from fibres harvested from flax, valued for being strong, lightweight, and cool against the skin

Example

Mauricio wore a white linen shirt to the wedding because the fabric kept him cool.

collocation: linen shirt / linen suit / linen trousers

Unlike cotton, linen wrinkles easily, but many people love its natural texture and breathability.

uncountable — no article when referring to the material

Common collocations
  • pure linen
  • fine linen
  • white linen
  • linen cloth
  • linen fabric
  • linen shirt
  • linen suit
  • linen trousers
  • linen dress
Synonyms
  • flax

    flax is the plant; linen is the fabric woven from its fibres

  • cotton

    cotton is a different plant fibre; lighter and cheaper than linen but less durable

Grammar Patterns

linen + noun (as modifier: linen shirt, linen trousers)

pure/fine/white linen

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'a linen' to mean a piece of fabric. When used as a modifier before nouns (linen trousers, linen cloth), it describes the material something is made from.

Common Mistakes

My shirt is made of a linen.
My shirt is made of linen.
linen is uncountable; do not use 'a' before it when referring to the material.

2. household textile items such as sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, and napkins, w

2.nounB2
Definition

household textile items such as sheets, pillowcases, tablecloths, and napkins, whether made from genuine linen fabric or from another material that looks like it

Example

The hotel changes all its bed linens every morning before new guests arrive.

bed linens — common collocation in hospitality contexts

Nora bought new linen for the dining room, including a tablecloth and six matching napkins.

Common collocations
  • bed linen
  • table linen
  • bath linen
  • household linen
  • clean linens
  • fresh linens
  • dirty linens
Synonyms
  • bedding

    bedding specifically covers bed items (sheets, pillowcases, duvet covers); linen is broader and includes tablecloths and napkins

  • household textiles

    a more general, modern term that includes items made of cotton, polyester, or blends; linen is more traditional and specific

Grammar Patterns

linens (plural) — specific items

household linen / bed linen / table linen

the linens — a set of items

Usage Note

When used as a category (household linen, bed linen), the word is uncountable and takes a singular verb. When referring to a countable set of individual items, the plural linens is common, especially in hospitality contexts ('fresh linens', 'the linens need changing').

Common Mistakes

I need to buy a new linen for the guest room.
I need to buy new linens for the guest room.
use the plural for a set of sheets and pillowcases.
Idioms

air/wash your dirty linen in public

idiom

to discuss private, personal, or embarrassing matters in front of other people, especially people outside your family or close group

The politician aired her family's dirty linen in public during a live television interview, which damaged her reputation.

Most celebrities try not to wash their dirty linen in public, knowing that personal scandals hurt their image.

air/wash your dirty laundry/linen in public

idiom

To talk about private or embarrassing matters where other people can hear.

Maya refused to air her family's dirty laundry in public.

Why did you wash your dirty linen in public at the party?

linen — adjective

Word family

  • linens
    plural nounB2
  • flax
    nounB2
  • flaxen
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Linen, cotton, and flax are often confused by English learners. Flax is the plant itself — the tall, blue-flowered crop from which fibres are harvested to make linen fabric. Linen refers to the finished cloth woven from those flax fibres, valued for its strength, breathability, and ability to keep the body cool in hot weather. Cotton is a different natural fibre, softer and cheaper than linen but less durable and more absorbent. A linen blend mixes genuine flax fibres with polyester, rayon, or cotton to reduce wrinkles and lower the cost while keeping some of linen's texture. For example: 'The shirt is pure linen, not a blend.' / 'Cotton sheets are comfortable, but linen sheets last longer.' / 'Flax is grown in cooler climates across Europe.'

linen ↗cotton ↗flaxlinen blend

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • linen cupboard
  • linen closet
  • dirty linen
  • linen basket

Prepositions

  • made of linen
  • made from linen
  • woven from linen

Etymology

GreekLatinOld EnglishEnglish

The word linen comes from the Old English adjective līnen, meaning 'made of flax', which combined the noun līn ('flax') with the suffix -en ('made of'). That root līn was borrowed from Latin līnum ('flax, linen'), which itself came from Greek linon ('flax'). The plant name 'flax' enters English through a separate Germanic path. So the word has carried the same meaning for over a thousand years.