sandpaper

1 of 2

noun

sand·​pa·​per ˈsan(d)-ˌpā-pər 

: paper covered on one side with abrasive material (such as sand) glued fast and used for smoothing and polishing

sandpapery

ˈsan(d)-ˌpā-p(ə-)rē 

adjective

sandpaper

2 of 2

verb

sandpapered; sandpapering; sandpapers

transitive verb

: to rub with or as if with sandpaper

Examples of sandpaper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Beans often have a very tough seed coat that prevents water from entering, and only when this is broken—by something such as wildfire heat, the acid of a bird’s stomach, a scalpel or sandpaper—can water enter and the seed awaken. —Katarina Zimmer, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025

Every attempt to swallow was an assault on the throat, like sandpaper over an open wound. —Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025

Verb

But that was back when the team drafted well enough and the greatest quarterback of all time was able to sandpaper over their misses. —Chad Graff, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025

Other needs include upgrading the defense corps, acquiring a veteran goalie to potentially pair with Yaroslav Askarov, bringing in another scoring winger, and adding some size and sandpaper to help the Sharks become a more difficult team to play against, which has been Grier’s goal since day one. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1755, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sandpaper

• newspaper
• notepaper
• skyscraper
• wallpaper
• wastepaper
• caper
• paper
• raper
• scraper
• shaper
• taper
• vapor

Kids Definition

sandpaper

1 of 2 noun

sand·​pa·​per -ˌpā-pər 

: paper with rough material (as sand) glued on one side and used for smoothing and polishing

sandpaper

2 of 2 verb

: to rub with or as if with sandpaper