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.
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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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to cover or furnish with leather.
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Informal. to beat with a leather strap.
noun
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a material consisting of the skin of an animal made smooth and flexible by tanning, removing the hair, etc
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( as modifier )
leather goods
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(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
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have leatheredperfect
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has leatheredperfect
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am leatheringprogressive
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are leatheringprogressive
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is leatheringprogressive
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have been leatheringperfect progressive
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has been leatheringperfect progressive
Past
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leatheredsimple
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had leatheredperfect
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was leatheringprogressive
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were leatheringprogressive
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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:
She painted delicate flowers, oranges and leaves on glass, leather and even lampshades.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026
My wayward wrist was so prone to ruining my cast, I was given a wrist lock—a leather strap that restrained it in place—in order to fix it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2026
Other ideas were discarded, like a leather American football, because of doubts it would endure 250 years underground.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
She throws a different leather handbag onto the passenger seat of her car, pulls on a pair of black leather driving gloves, and zooms off.
From Salon ● Jul. 2, 2026
The air carried the scent of pipe tobacco and imported cigars, mixed with the spice of cologne and the saddle smell of expensive leather.
From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood
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
It hosts a collection of artefacts and memorabilia such as Dunlop's restored and original motorcycles, rare photographs, racing leathers, trophies and personal items that mark Joey's remarkable career.
From BBC ● May 24, 2025
So leathers, more tailored silhouettes, minimalism with function — it’s come together into this idea of “cyber prep.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2024
Level up with more involved recipes like flavored jerkies or fruit leathers.
From Salon ● Dec. 6, 2023
She was barefoot, with oiled hair, wearing Dothraki riding leathers and a painted vest given her as a bride gift.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
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
On first sight, Ms. Kidman looks close to unrecognizable, her face carefully mottled and leathered, and her eyes ringed in a red hue you could call Permanent Hangover.
From New York Times ● Sep. 14, 2018
His face was square and brown and leathered by much sun, his eyes jet chips set in smiling squints.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
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
To receive this commission, he had been summoned from the drawing-room, whose floor he was engaged in leathering to the requisite degree of lustre.
From Anthony Lyveden by Yates, Dornford
“Ho! it’s a leathering is it, your lordship!”
From Eli's Children The Chronicles of an Unhappy Family by Fenn, George Manville
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.
