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

Choose between a slouchy suede Madewell tote or a stylish Coach shoulder bag. —Jordan Julian, InStyle, 13 Mar. 2026

This Free People faux suede blazer is an elegant piece that looks just as great with a pair of jeans and a turtleneck as a dress out to dinner. —Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026

Cold weather calls for this faux fur lining, a removable and machine washable insole with arch support (great for victims of plantar fasciitis) alongside top-grade materials like sheepskin and suede for a winter slipper worth investing in. —Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 10 Mar. 2026

Options range from classic black and croc-embossed styles to sumptuous suedes and pops of fresh color—cherry red, chartreuse, and powder blue, to be exact. —Laura Jackson, Vogue, 9 Mar. 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"