adjective

leathery

LEH-thuh-ree

Leathery (adjective) means having a texture like leather — tough, thick, and often wrinkled. Example: “Years in the sun had left his skin leathery and tanned.”

adjective

Having a texture like leather — tough, thick, and often wrinkled.

"Years in the sun had left his skin leathery and tanned."

"The old book had a leathery cover."

How to use leathery

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTough and thick like leather, often describing skin or a surface.

Common pairings

leathery skin leathery texture leathery leaves

Word forms

more leathery comparative, leatherier comparative, most leathery superlative, leatheriest superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Years in the sun had left his skin _____ and tanned.

Etymology

From leather plus the adjective suffix -y.

Rhymes for leathery

very every fiery query leery emery artery celery bakery finery ornery misery

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Frequently asked questions

What does “leathery” mean?

The word “leathery” means having a texture like leather — tough, thick, and often wrinkled. In plain terms, tough and thick like leather, often describing skin or a surface.

How do you pronounce “leathery”?

“Leathery” is pronounced LEH-thuh-ree (/ˈlɛðəɹi/ in IPA).

How do you use “leathery” in a sentence?

Here is “leathery” used in a sentence: “Years in the sun had left his skin leathery and tanned.”

What part of speech is “leathery”?

“Leathery” is an adjective.