fleece
11 synonyms for fleece, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The woolly coat of a sheep, or wool shorn from it in one piece.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The woolly coat of a sheep, or wool shorn from it in one piece.
“The farmer sheared the fleece from each sheep in spring.”
How to use fleece
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
fleece jacket
sheep's fleece
fleece someone out of money
Etymology
From Old English fleos, referring to a sheep's coat of wool.
Full origin of fleece →Frequently asked questions
What does “fleece” mean?
The word “fleece” means the woolly coat of a sheep, or wool shorn from it in one piece. In plain terms, a sheep's wool coat, the soft fabric named after it, or (informally) to swindle someone out of money.
How do you pronounce “fleece”?
“Fleece” is pronounced flihys (/fliːs/ in IPA).
How do you use “fleece” in a sentence?
Here is “fleece” used in a sentence: “The farmer sheared the fleece from each sheep in spring.”
What part of speech is “fleece”?
Depending on how it is used, “fleece” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “fleece” come from?
The word “fleece” comes from Old English. From Old English fleos, referring to a sheep's coat of wool.
Is “fleece” a common word?
“Fleece” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fleece” have?
“Fleece” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the woolly coat of a sheep, or wool shorn from it in one piece.
