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 top part of the shoe is covered with a durable, waterproof suede material, while the bottom features a light-yet-sturdy rubber outsole that prevents slipping on wet surfaces. —Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025

Retailing for $550, the shoes come in a wide range of colors and finishes, running the gamut from brown croc-embossed to khaki suede. —Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025

The slip-ons also have the brand’s signature sheepskin lining and suede exterior. —Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025

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, 3 Nov. 2025

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"