leather

American  

[leth-er] / ˈlɛð ər /

noun

1. the skin of an animal, with the hair removed, prepared for use by tanning or a similar process designed to preserve it against decay and make it pliable or supple when dry.

2. an article made of this material.

3. stirrup leather.

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adjective

1. pertaining to, made of, or resembling leather.

   leather processing; leather upholstery.

2. Slang. catering to or patronized by customers who typically wear leather clothing, often as a means of signaling interest in or preference for sadomasochistic sexual activity.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover or furnish with leather.

2. Informal. to beat with a leather strap.

leather British  

/ ˈlɛðə /

noun

1. 1. a material consisting of the skin of an animal made smooth and flexible by tanning, removing the hair, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      leather goods

2. (plural) leather clothes, esp as worn by motorcyclists

3. the flap of a dog's ear

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verb

1. to cover with leather

2. to whip with or as if with a leather strap

leather Idioms  

1. see hell-bent for leather.

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Other Word Forms

• underleather
  noun
• unleathered
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of leather

before 1000; Middle English lether, Old English lether- (in compounds); cognate with Dutch, German leder, Old Norse lethr, MIr lethar skin, leather, Welsh lledr, Middle Breton lezr leather

Explanation

Leather is a material that's made from animal skin and used to make shoes, bags, furniture covers, and many other things. You might be too hot if you wear your leather pants to the beach. Most expensive, well-made shoes are made of leather — although it's pliable and easy to shape, it's also extremely strong and long-lasting. To make leather, the skin of an animal is stripped of all fur or hair, and then tanned, or treated to keep it from cracking and drying. The leather collars on early US Marines' uniforms led to their nickname being "leathernecks."

Example Sentences

Chris Leather, officer in charge of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Criminal Operations in Ontario, called the gunfire a national-security incident.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Leather goods manufacturer Sitoy Group Holdings promotes $100 handbags it claims are nearly identical to those sold for upward of $1,000, made on the same production lines that manufacture for Prada and Michael Kors.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Leather and co-founder of Payasos L.A., a nonprofit that organizes events and mutual aid efforts to support Latino visibility in the leather world.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 22, 2025

Leather Britches makes for a great community-building project!

From Salon • Feb. 2, 2025

“I saw that at Mirror Tech. Leather they grew in a lab from mouse cells.”

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

Related Words

• skin