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

These shoes have a thick yet lightweight sole to absorb impact, along with a super-cool exterior that has suede panels and breathable mesh detailing. —Clara McMahon, People.com, 13 Apr. 2025

High-end travel toiletry bags made of leather or suede, many of which are made by premium travel brands, can be $50-$150. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025

Leather, Suede, and Faux Leather Leather, suede, and faux leather are materials that should never be cleaned with water or put in the dryer. —Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Apr. 2025

The high-top comes in a neutral White Sand hue, while dimensionality is added through a suede and canvas materialization. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 2 Apr. 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"