sandpaper

American  

[sand-pey-per] / ˈsændˌpeɪ pər /

noun

sandpapers plural

1. strong paper coated with a layer of sand or other abrasive, used for smoothing or polishing.

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verb (used with object)

sandpapers, present (3rd person singular) sandpapered, past participle, past sandpapering present participle

1. to smooth or polish with or as if with sandpaper.

sandpaper British  

/ ˈsændˌpeɪpə /

noun

1. (formerly) a strong paper coated with sand for smoothing and polishing

2. a common name for glasspaper

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verb

1. (tr) to polish or grind (a surface) with or as if with sandpaper

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sandpapers
  plural

Participles

• sandpapering
  present
• sandpapered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• sandpaper
  simple
• sandpapers
  simple
• have sandpapered
  perfect
• has sandpapered
  perfect
• am sandpapering
  progressive
• are sandpapering
  progressive
• is sandpapering
  progressive
• have been sandpapering
  perfect progressive
• has been sandpapering
  perfect progressive

Past

• sandpapered
  simple
• had sandpapered
  perfect
• was sandpapering
  progressive
• were sandpapering
  progressive
• had been sandpapering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sandpaper
  simple
• will have sandpapered
  perfect
• will be sandpapering
  progressive
• will have been sandpapering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of sandpaper

First recorded in 1815–25; sand + paper

Explanation

Sandpaper is a special thick paper with a rough, abrasive surface. Painters will often sand a wall with sandpaper before painting it. Woodworkers use sandpaper to smooth wooden surfaces, and sandpaper is also useful for removing loose paint, grit, or dirt when you're painting or refinishing something. Sandpaper is thought to have been invented in thirteenth century China, from a crushed substance, often shells or sand, that was glued to parchment with natural gum. In the 1800s, a similar product called "glass paper" was made from crushed glass, which, despite its name, is sometimes still used in today's sandpaper.

Example Sentences

Even though the sponge feels soft, its internal structure acts like extremely fine sandpaper.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

Former opener David Warner taught batter Cameron Bancroft how to use sandpaper to rough up the ball, and Bancroft was then caught doing so by TV cameras during play.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2025

I’d lie in the dark, typing “vintage Junya Watanabe skirt” into my Depop search bar and scroll until my eyes felt like they were made of sandpaper.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2025

“Hard Truths” is sublime and soft in the way that a rough surface is smoothed to the touch by sandpaper.

From Salon • Jan. 10, 2025

But finally, after the inside of his mouth had turned to sandpaper, he said, “No thanks, Charles. We’re just gonna, you know, read.”

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein