Flaxen describes a pale yellowish-gold color, like the color of straw or unbleached linen fabric. When flax is harvested and processed, its natural fibers have a soft, light golden color.

People most often use flaxen to describe hair. When a character in a story has flaxen hair, picture hair that's light blonde with golden tones, not quite platinum or white-blonde. Think of the color of hay bales in a sunny field, or butter mixed with cream.

You might read that a Viking warrior had a flaxen beard, or that a princess in a fairy tale had long flaxen braids. The word adds a poetic or old-fashioned quality to descriptions. In everyday conversation, people would simply say “blonde” or “golden,” but writers choose flaxen when they want to create a particular mood or image, especially in historical or fantasy settings.