sharkskin
noun
shark·skin
ˈshärk-ˌskin 
1
: the hide of a shark or leather made from it
2
a
: a smooth durable woolen or worsted suiting in twill or basket weave with small woven designs
b
: a smooth crisp fabric with a dull finish made usually of rayon in basket weave
Examples of sharkskin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the end of the film, Sandy Olsson (played by the late, great Olivia Newton-John) emerges for the splashy closing number wearing a leather moto jacket, skintight sharkskin pants, and heels.
—
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
Chef Phillip Frankland Lee’s bites will include tastes like Roasted Bone Marrow nigiri finished with soy, sea salt, and freshly grated wasabi on sharkskin – for a night that is sure to not only be delicious but full of creativity and excitement.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
Knoll and Jean-Michel Frank chairs are covered in a woven tweed; a desk, lavishly covered in his signature shagreen — or sanded sharkskin — punctuates the main room.
—Rose Apodaca Jones, WWD, 16 Aug. 2024
In addition to stamp sales (with proceeds benefiting the marine research society), Leicester planned to sell a Sea Turtle Cookery Book bound in sharkskin and a small newspaper titled the Times of New Atlantis.
—Fred Nadis, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2024
Keith: Man, my all-time favorite was the sharkskin pants, for sure.
—Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 17 Nov. 2023
Chef George grated the wasabi with a sharkskin grater, telling me that 99% of Japanese restaurants do not use real wasabi.
—Margie Goldsmith, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022
The sharkskin suit was always one of my favorites.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Aug. 2022
The low-pressure vortex helps to suck the sharkskin forward through the water.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2012
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Christian Allaire, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2025
Chef Phillip Frankland Lee’s bites will include tastes like Roasted Bone Marrow nigiri finished with soy, sea salt, and freshly grated wasabi on sharkskin – for a night that is sure to not only be delicious but full of creativity and excitement.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 14 June 2025
Knoll and Jean-Michel Frank chairs are covered in a woven tweed; a desk, lavishly covered in his signature shagreen — or sanded sharkskin — punctuates the main room.
—Rose Apodaca Jones, WWD, 16 Aug. 2024
In addition to stamp sales (with proceeds benefiting the marine research society), Leicester planned to sell a Sea Turtle Cookery Book bound in sharkskin and a small newspaper titled the Times of New Atlantis.
—Fred Nadis, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 July 2024
Keith: Man, my all-time favorite was the sharkskin pants, for sure.
—Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 17 Nov. 2023
Chef George grated the wasabi with a sharkskin grater, telling me that 99% of Japanese restaurants do not use real wasabi.
—Margie Goldsmith, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2022
The sharkskin suit was always one of my favorites.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Aug. 2022
The low-pressure vortex helps to suck the sharkskin forward through the water.
—Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Sharkskin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sharkskin. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sharkskin
noun
shark·skin
ˈshärk-ˌskin
1
: the hide of a shark or leather made from it
2
: a smooth durable material with small woven designs that looks like the hide of a shark
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