suede

1 of 2

noun

ˈswād 

variants or less commonly suède

1

: leather with a napped surface

2

: a fabric finished with a nap to simulate suede

suede

2 of 2

verb

sueded; sueding

transitive verb

: to give a suede finish or nap to (a fabric or leather)

intransitive verb

: to give cloth or leather a suede finish

Examples of suede in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The oversize everyday bag continues to dominate, particularly in supple suede finishes, while mini and micro bags remain relevant through playful interpretations featuring embroidery, charms and decorative details. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

The sporty jacket offers the perfect contrast to her rustic suede skirt and tall brown leather boots. — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 13 Oct. 2026

For this story, Jessie scoured Nordstrom for a variety of ways to wear chocolate brown suede, including some more affordable options and splurge-worthy investments. — Jessie Quinn, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2026

There’s a focus on sharp tailoring and sumptuous material, from fuzzy mohair to rich suede, with a palette that reflects the changing leaves in the not-too-far-away Central Park. — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French gants de Suède Swedish gloves

First Known Use

Noun

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1921, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for suede

• aid
• aide
• bade
• blade
• braid
• clade
• dade
• fade
• flayed
• fraid
• frayed
• gade

Kids Definition

suede

noun

variants also suède

ˈswād

1

: leather rubbed on one side to produce a velvety surface

2

: a cloth fabric that looks and feels like suede

Etymology

Noun

from French gants de Suède "Swedish gloves," from Suède "Sweden"