leather

1 of 2

noun

leath·​er ˈle-t͟hər How to pronounce leather (audio)
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 adjective

leather

2 of 2

verb

leathered; leathering ˈle-t͟hə-riŋ How to pronounce leather (audio)
ˈlet͟h-riŋ

transitive verb

1
: to cover with leather
2
: to beat with a strap : thrash

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Material World is a weekly roundup of innovations and ideas within the materials sector, covering news from emerging biomaterials and alternative leathers to sustainable substitutes and future-proof fibers. Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 3 Oct. 2025 Subaru’s Star Tex upholstery is easy to clean, comfortable and free of the karmic discomfort that may accompany leather surfaces and animal testing. Mark Phelan, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Mounting annoyance manifested itself in bizarre fashion last night when manager Chris Wilder, walking towards the tunnel at half-time, leathered a ball into the crowd in anger, above. Phil Hay, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 Heeled, bubbled, square-toed, strapped or leathered out with metal accents like Longoria’s, the shape is proving its range. Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leather

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of leather was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leather.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leather. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

leather

noun
leath·​er
ˈlet͟h-ər
1
: animal skin prepared for use
2
: something entirely or partly made of leather

More from Merriam-Webster on leather

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!