suede

suede — noun

1. animal skin that has been prepared so that its surface has a soft, slightly roug

1.nounB1
Definition

animal skin that has been prepared so that its surface has a soft, slightly rough texture and does not reflect light; commonly made into shoes, jackets, bags, belts, and other accessories

Example

Dahlia wore a pair of brown suede boots to the autumn festival.

uncountable, modifier: suede + noun

Trang cleaned her suede handbag with a special brush to remove the dirt.

Common collocations
  • genuine suede
  • soft suede
  • brown suede
  • black suede
  • suede shoes
  • suede jacket
  • suede bag
  • suede sofa
Synonyms
  • nubuck

    a similar napped leather made from the outer side of the hide, more durable and more expensive than suede

  • buckskin

    deer hide that is soft and napped like suede but traditionally made by a different tanning process

Antonyms
  • patent leather

    high-gloss, shiny leather that is the opposite of suede's matte surface

Grammar Patterns

suede + noun

made of suede

in suede

Usage Note

Suede is more delicate than smooth leather — water, oil, and rough rubbing can damage its texture permanently, so special cleaning products are usually needed.

Common Mistakes

I bought a suede.' (countable usage)
I bought a suede jacket.' or 'I bought some suede.
suede is uncountable; use a different noun or 'some' to refer to the material.
He cleaned the suede with water.
He cleaned the suede with a special suede eraser.
water can stain and ruin suede fabric.

2. a man-made fabric that is manufactured to have the same soft, slightly fuzzy sur

2.nounB2
Definition

a man-made fabric that is manufactured to have the same soft, slightly fuzzy surface as real suede leather, often used for affordable clothing, upholstery, and accessories

Example

Bao chose a grey faux-suede couch that looked elegant yet cost far less than leather.

modifier: faux suede

The dress was made from polyester suede that felt surprisingly close to the real thing.

Common collocations
  • faux suede
  • suede-look
  • microsuede
  • polyester suede
  • suede-like fabric
Synonyms
  • microsuede

    a specific type of ultra-fine polyester suede fabric, often used in upholstery

  • suede cloth

    a general term for any woven or knitted fabric that imitates suede texture

Grammar Patterns

faux suede + noun

suede-look + noun

made of suede fabric

Usage Note

Do not confuse faux suede with the real suede in sense 1. Faux suede is usually made from polyester or other synthetic fibres and is typically lower in price and easier to clean.

suede — verb

Word family

  • sueded
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Suede refers to leather with a napped (fuzzy) surface made from the inner side of animal hide. It is softer and lighter than standard smooth leather but less durable and more vulnerable to stains. Nubuck is a similar napped leather but made from the outer (grain) side, making it stronger, more water-resistant, and significantly more expensive. Standard smooth leather has a glossy or satin finish and is far tougher than suede — it is the go-to choice for belts, soles, and heavy-duty bags. Velvet is a woven fabric rather than leather, yet it shares suede's soft, plush feel; it is used mainly for clothing and upholstery where durability is less important. For example, a suede jacket looks casual and elegant, whereas a nubuck boot can handle light rain, and a velvet dress is strictly for indoor occasions.

suede ↗leather ↗nubuckvelvet ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • suede jacket
  • suede boots
  • suede shoes
  • suede bag
  • suede sofa
  • suede gloves
  • suede finish
  • suede fabric
  • suede upholstery

Phrases

  • genuine suede
  • faux suede
  • suede-like
  • suede-look
  • a pair of suede...

Prepositions

  • in suede
  • of suede
  • made from suede

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

The word suede comes from the French phrase 'gants de Suède,' meaning 'gloves from Sweden.' In the 1800s, Sweden was known for making fine kid-leather gloves with a soft, brushed surface. English speakers shortened 'gants de Suède' to 'suede' and began using the word to describe any leather or fabric with that characteristic napped finish.