sharkskin

sharkskin — noun

1. a manufactured textile with a sleek, softly gleaming surface, typically made of

1.nounC1
Definition

a manufactured textile with a sleek, softly gleaming surface, typically made of synthetic fibres and mainly used for suits, skirts, and other tailored garments

Example

Ingrid chose a fitted dress of ivory sharkskin with a subtle shine for her ceremony.

collocation: sharkskin dress / sharkskin suit

For his new jacket, Hao chose sharkskin because the fabric holds its shape well.

property: holds shape well

Common collocations
  • sharkskin suit
  • sharkskin jacket
  • sharkskin blazer
  • sharkskin fabric
  • smooth sharkskin
  • crisp sharkskin
  • metallic sharkskin
Synonyms
  • gabardine

    a tightly woven, hard-wearing suiting fabric that lacks the subtle sheen typical of sharkskin.

  • suiting

    a broader category of fabric for tailored clothing; sharkskin is one type within it.

Usage Note

Uncountable noun that names the material itself, not individual garments — use 'sharkskin' without an article when speaking of it generally. Frequently encountered in fashion, tailoring, and textile contexts.

Common Mistakes

The tailor recommended a sharkskin for the suit.
The tailor recommended sharkskin for the suit.
sharkskin is uncountable and does not take 'a' when referring to the material in general.
My jacket is made of real sharkskin.
My jacket is made of sharkskin fabric.
without context, 'real sharkskin' could be mistaken for actual shark hide, which is a different material.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Sharkskin and gabardine are both smooth fabrics used for suits and jackets, but their finish differs sharply. Sharkskin has a faint, silvery sheen that catches the light, whereas gabardine is a matte, high-density twill built for durability rather than lustre. Suiting is a much broader umbrella term that covers sharkskin, gabardine, wool serge, worsted, and dozens of other textiles. If you want the shimmer, ask for sharkskin; if you need a tough, everyday work fabric, gabardine is the better choice; and if you are simply describing any formal garment cloth, suiting works without being specific.

sharkskin ↗gabardinesuiting

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • sharkskin suit
  • sharkskin blazer
  • metallic sharkskin
  • crisp sharkskin

Prepositions

  • made of sharkskin
  • tailored in sharkskin

Etymology

English

A compound of 'shark' and 'skin', first recorded in English around 1851 to describe the rough, abrasive hide of the shark itself. In the mid-1900s, textile manufacturers adopted the name for synthetic fabrics whose smooth, cool surface and subtle shimmer reminded designers of a shark's skin. The fabric sense has now overtaken the original leather meaning in everyday use.