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

Betzaida Sanchez, shopping with her friend Araceli Herrera, both from Kansas City, Kansas, was thrilled to find a perfectly fitting pair of burgundy thigh-high suede boots for just $8. —Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026

Similarly, Canali’s presentation showed its strengths, with a collection of tonal neutrals, like brown suede and navy knits, nodding to the cozy, yet polished moments of a private club. —Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Add Gigi Hadid’s suede shacket into the mix, expertly teamed up with a relaxed barrel-leg, and those winter style blues will be history. —Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026

Skechers Hotshot Cool Transition Suede Sneakers Made of suede and leather, Skechers’ sneakers are an impressive lookalike for the indoor soccer shoes made popular by celebrities like Katie Holmes and Jennifer Aniston. —Michelle Baricevic, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 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"