fleece

noun

\ ˈflēs

How to pronounce fleece (audio)

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Definition of fleece

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the coat of wool covering a wool-bearing animal (such as a sheep)

b : the wool obtained from a sheep at one shearing

2a : any of various soft or woolly coverings

b : a soft bulky deep-piled knitted or woven fabric used chiefly for clothing

fleece

verb

fleeced; fleecing

Definition of fleece (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to strip of money or property by fraud or extortion

b : to charge excessively for goods or services

2 : to remove the fleece from : shear

3 : to dot or cover with fleecy masses

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Examples of fleece in a Sentence

Noun learning how to shear the fleece off a sheep Verb Don't let that salesman fleece you. an unsuspecting tourist fleeced by a scam artist

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The polyester fleece used in these blankets is thick enough to provide appreciable warmth, capable of drying quickly, and is easy to clean. — Wes Siler, Outside Online, "The Ultimate Car-Camping Starter Kit," 2 May 2021 The thumb loops and binding on this high-quality fleece, which comes in several different colours, helps to keep the cold wind out. — Fiona Tapp, CNN Underscored, "Fun, smart outdoor-themed products to reignite kids’ wanderlust," 15 Mar. 2021 Despite his heavy fleece, Baarack was actually underweight after being sheared, Behrend said. — Ryan W. Miller, USA TODAY, "Baarack, a sheep rescued in Australia with over 75 pounds of wool, is 'getting more confident every day'," 24 Feb. 2021 Instead, start with a warm synthetic base layer, add a mid-layer such as a fleece, wool shirt, or mid-weight jacket, then top it all off with a waterproof layer. — Alisha Mcdarris, Popular Science, "Winter camping is a great way to see more nature and fewer people," 12 Dec. 2019 This beanie pairs well with an oversized shirt-jacket or denim jacket during the last days of spring’s cooler weather, or wear it with a soft fleece for a hike in one of the national parks that the sale of this beanie helps support. — Krystin Arneson, CNN Underscored, "Madewell and Parks Project’s new sustainable collab helps to preserve national parks," 30 Mar. 2021 At Staud, a fuzzy yellow fleece paired with matching track pants was undoubtedly the hit of the collection. — Amanda Randone, refinery29.com, "This NYFW Color Trend Will Bring Some Sunshine To Your Closet," 19 Feb. 2021 Take 25% off Sweaty Betty’s sporty, tie-waist Essential pocket joggers (now $58.50, were $78) and 58% off AFRM’s cozy fleece Fink Crop tie-dye hoodie (now $27.97-$38.90). — oregonlive, "Nordstrom features ‘forgiving’ fashions during 2021 spring sale for men, women: Sweaters, Uggs, plush hoodies among top items," 26 Mar. 2021 Using the proper detergent, water temperature, and drying method allows fleece to live its longest, softest life. — Outdoor Life, "Super Soft Women’s Fleece Jackets for In-Between Weather," 23 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The goal is to safely and properly sanitize the apartment, not fleece you. — New York Times, "Do You Have to Pay Your Building’s Covid-19 Cleaning Fee?," 10 Apr. 2021 On the moral front, the bill creates--quite intentionally--a revenue production system known to fleece those who least need to lose money at a craps table. — al, "Good, bad, ugly? What columnists say about Alabama gambling proposal," 2 Mar. 2021 The settlement merely means Duke Energy won’t be able to fleece an entire state’s worth of people who have nowhere else to turn. — Nick Martin, The New Republic, "The True Cost of Energy Monopolies," 26 Jan. 2021 This category captures fleece pants with a rating from 200 to 300 gsm. — The Editors, Field & Stream, "Three Things to Consider When Choosing Fleece Pants," 1 Oct. 2019 And our waiter was enjoying every tourist-fleecing moment of our meal. — TheWeek, "Chicken en Cocotte: France's one pot solution," 17 May 2020 Wrangle the kiddos for a day at Jersey Shore Alpacas, a local farm in Green Creek, just north of Cape May, for a day of carrot stick-feeding and fleece petting. — Betsy Blumenthal, Condé Nast Traveler, "15 Best Beaches in New Jersey for When You Need to Escape the City," 10 Mar. 2020 Everyone in the king’s realm should be able to read the Bible in English—if only to see what isn’t in it: popes, monks, counterfeit relics used by priests to fleece the poor. — Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, "Hilary Mantel Takes Thomas Cromwell Down," 5 Apr. 2020 By the mid-‘90s — after fleecing suburban Irwindale of $10 million in an aborted stadium deal and unsuccessfully trying to build at Hollywood Park — the Raiders abruptly returned to Oakland for a second go-around. — Ron Kroichick, SFChronicle.com, "Raiders’ finale in Oakland punctuates emotional journey for team and fans," 13 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fleece.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

7 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Fleece.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fleece. Accessed 12 May. 2021.

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More Definitions for fleece

fleece

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fleece

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the woolly coat of a sheep

: a soft cloth that is used to make warm clothes

chiefly British : a jacket made from this cloth

fleece

verb

English Language Learners Definition of fleece (Entry 2 of 2)

informal : to deceive and take money from (someone)

See the full definition for fleece in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fleece

noun

\ ˈflēs

\

Kids Definition of fleece

(Entry 1 of 2)

: the woolly coat of an animal and especially a sheep

fleece

verb

fleeced; fleecing

Kids Definition of fleece (Entry 2 of 2)

: to rob or cheat by trickery

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