leather
Americannoun
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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.
-
an article made of this material.
adjective
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pertaining to, made of, or resembling leather.
leather processing; leather upholstery.
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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)
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leathers,
present (3rd person singular)
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leathered,
past participle, past
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leathering
present participle
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to cover or furnish with leather.
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Informal. to beat with a leather strap.
noun
-
-
a material consisting of the skin of an animal made smooth and flexible by tanning, removing the hair, etc
-
( as modifier )
leather goods
-
-
(plural) leather clothes, esp as worn by motorcyclists
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the flap of a dog's ear
verb
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to cover with leather
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to whip with or as if with a leather strap
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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leathersimple
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leatherssimple
-
have leatheredperfect
-
has leatheredperfect
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am leatheringprogressive
-
are leatheringprogressive
-
is leatheringprogressive
-
have been leatheringperfect progressive
-
has been leatheringperfect progressive
Past
-
leatheredsimple
-
had leatheredperfect
-
was leatheringprogressive
-
were leatheringprogressive
-
had been leatheringperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing leather
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Sacks was on stage with Huang at a live taping, when Huang, clad in his usual black leather jacket, took the call.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
He has been known to attract crowds of adoring fans, competing for autographs or selfies with the 63-year-old who is known for his trademark leather jacket.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
At breakfast, Collins is wearing a patterned turquoise jacket over a matching dress and high-heeled black leather boots.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Huang, in his trademark leather jacket, said safety is paramount but an engineering problem.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
But I see his boots have spurs and are expensive, hand-stitched, painted leather.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Designer Maria Grazia Chiuri marked her return to Fendi at Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday, presenting a sensual and lightweight collection featuring "remodelled" furs and leathers crafted like lace.
From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026
She has no plans to hang up her leathers though.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2024
It would call attention on anyone but even more so on May, who pairs it with Rick Owens shoulders, pink leathers, fur hats and full camo fits.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2024
Level up with more involved recipes like flavored jerkies or fruit leathers.
From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2023
She had expected someone much more elegant; this man wore black riding leathers and a black shirt that looked as if it had seen better days.
From "Ash" by Malinda Lo
And while a leathered look is great for handbags, it’s not so great for faces.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 4, 2021
One tall, young and beautiful, one short and a little bit older, leathered up and toughened up.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 3, 2021
His: leathered and intimidating, as if he were staring down a predator he intends to harpoon.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 1, 2019
The audience, leathered and pierced, was there for the headliner; the night I went, Flash couldn't quite get his sync quite right, people got impatient and basically booed their glittered top hat bling offstage.
From New York Times ● Aug. 26, 2016
Sun and wind had leathered his broad face, burnt it dark and grained it with fine lines.
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
We know he practised at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday after his opening win – seemingly testing out his playing arm by leathering some forehands - and also hit on Wednesday morning.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2025
Angela Merkel takes a particularly personal beating, with the front page of Libero featuring a picture of Mario Balotelli leathering a ball featuring the superimposed face of the German chancellor.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 29, 2012
An eye-catching rally ensues on the first of those match points, with both men leathering groundstokes from the baseline and feathering drop shots at the net.
From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2010
You're one of the kindest decentest chaps in the world, and yet you go leathering poor Tom Murray.
From A Dominie in Doubt by Alexander Sutherland Neill
“Ho! it’s a leathering is it, your lordship!”
From Eli's Children The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family by George Manville Fenn
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
