leather

1 of 2

noun

leath·​er ˈle-t͟hər 

1

: animal skin dressed for use

2

: the flap of the ear of a dog see dog illustration

3

: something wholly or partly made of leather

leather adjective

leatherlike

ˈle-t͟hər-ˌlīk 

adjective

leather

2 of 2

verb

leathered; leathering ˈle-t͟hə-riŋ 

ˈlet͟h-riŋ

transitive verb

1

: to cover with leather

2

: to beat with a strap : thrash

Synonyms of leather

Noun

• skin
• coat
• hide

Verb

• hide
• whip
• cowhide
• slash
• tan
• rawhide
• lash
• flick
• birch
• horsewhip
• switch

Examples of leather in a Sentence

Noun

the company claims to use only the finest leathers for its shoes and handbags

this jacket was made from real leather

Verb

an expert rider will find almost no reason to leather a horse

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rooms and suites are classically decorated, with cream linens, tan-colored leather headboards, and pale hardwood floors. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026

Instead of a conventional round watch scaled down for a smaller wrist, the new timepiece presents a polished, spherical case that’s engineered around a hefty mechanical movement, with a double-tour leather strap that can thread directly through. — Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

Those getting leathered up are Léa Seydoux, Dave Bautista, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Lily-Rose Depp, Doona Bae, Riley Keough, Chris Pine and Cate Blanchett. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026

The primary bath’s limestone floor tiles and deeply veined Cielo leathered quartzite reinforce the space’s quiet, earthy palette. — Laura Fenton, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English lether, from Old English lether-; akin to Old High German leder leather, Old Irish lethar

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing leather

• buff leather
• glove leather
• hell-for-leather
• kid leather
• leather-lunged
• napa leather
• patent leather
• Russia leather
• saddle leather
• shoe-leather
• stirrup leather

Rhymes for leather

• aether
• gether
• heather
• nether
• tether
• weather
• wether
• whether
• altogether
• together

Kids Definition

leather

noun

leath·​er

ˈlet͟h-ər

1

: animal skin prepared for use

2

: something entirely or partly made of leather