What does "leather" mean?
A tough material produced from the skin of animals, by tanning or similar process, used e.g. for clothing; often denotes leather from cattle when no qualifier specifies otherwise.
Leather
/ˈlɛðə/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A tough material produced from the skin of animals, by tanning or similar process, used e.g. for clothing; often denotes leather from cattle when no qualifier specifies otherwise.
- Grammar: leather is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: articles, brown, buff, cartilage.
- Useful contrasts: condone, fabric, nonleather.
- Usage evidence: Good leather will wear for years.
How to use "leather"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "leather" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "leather" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "leather" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "leather" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "leather" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "articles" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "leather", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A tough material produced from the skin of animals, by tanning or similar process, used e.g. for clothing; often denotes leather from cattle when no qualifier specifies otherwise. countable, uncountable
- 2 an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning wordnet
- 3 A piece of the above used for polishing. countable, uncountable
- 4 A cricket ball or football. colloquial, countable, uncountable
"The goalee made a frantic grab as the leather spun clean past him, but he was just a second too late, and Joe had scored for Redcliff."
- 5 clothing made from the skin of animals, often worn by motorcycle riders. countable, plural, uncountable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 A good defensive play countable, uncountable
"Jones showed good leather to snare that liner."
- 7 A punch. countable, uncountable
- 8 The skin. countable, dated, humorous, uncountable
- 9 Clipping of fruit leather. abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To cover with leather. transitive
"He rose and leathered his Colt as his father came to stand beside him."
- 2 whip with a leather strap wordnet
- 3 To form a leathery surface (on). ambitransitive
"By the appearance of his deep suntan, which had leathered his skin, and the calluses that covered his hands, Sheriff Anderson figured the man to be one of the area ranchers."
- 4 To strike forcefully. transitive
"He leathered the ball all the way down the street."
- 5 To spank or beat with a leather belt or strap. transitive
"My father was very angry with me— -he took and leathered ( beat) me, because I ran away from my school ; for I did run away from my school ; he took and tied me up on a Sunday morning, leathered me a Friday night, and Saturday night : I was stripped naked when he leathered me on Friday night, and Saturday; my father told me to strip myself, and he leathered me, it was with a whip; but I do not know where he got the whip; he tied me with my arms extended so -- (spreading out her arms to their extremity, as if they were to be nailed upon a cross) -- My legs were tied too -- I was at the bottom of the dresser."
Adjective
- 1 Made of leather. not-comparable
"Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke.[…]A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes."
- 2 Referring to one who wears leather clothing (motorcycle jacket, chaps over 501 jeans, boots), especially as a sign of sadomasochistic homosexuality. not-comparable
- 3 Referring to an establishment of familial relations through agreed sexual or romantic deviance. not-comparable
"Some research has documented the phenomenon of leather families as a form of intentional, chosen families created by members of sexual and gender minority groups, often in the face of biological family rejection and marginalization in society (Bauer, 2010; Hammack et al., 2019; Murphy & Bjorngaard, 2019; Pitagora, 2016). Leather families are a network of people that acknowledge and practice ongoing supportive relationships “while sharing the commonalities of the leather and kink scene” (Bannon, 2016). […] Very few studies have examined how many people are members of leather or other “chosen” families."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Antonyms
Example
"Good leather will wear for years."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "leather"?
Common synonyms include: articles, brown, buff, cartilage, chamois, coat.
How do you use "leather" in a sentence?
Good leather will wear for years.
How do you pronounce "leather"?
Pronounced /ˈlɛðə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English lether, from Old English leþer (“leather”), from Proto-West Germanic *leþr, from Proto-Germanic *leþrą (“leather”), possibly borrowed from Proto-Celtic *ɸlitrom, *letros, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥tro-. Cognate with West Frisian leare (“leather”), Low German Leder (“leather”), Dutch leder, leer (“leather”), German Leder (“leather”), Danish læder (“leather”), Swedish läder (“leather”), Icelandic leður (“leather”).
Etymology 2
English surname, from the noun leather.