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
1
Having a texture like leather — tough, thick, and often wrinkled.
"It is a staggering work, leathery and reliclike, with most of Pop Art embedded in its fragile surfaces."
— The New York Times, Art in Review (2007)
"The beef jerky was tough and leathery."
"Years in the sun had left his skin leathery and tanned."
"The old book had a leathery cover."
How to use leathery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTough and thick like leather, often describing skin or a surface.
Common pairings
leathery skin
leathery texture
leathery leaves
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more leathery, leatherier
- Superlative
- most leathery, leatheriest
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.
Synonyms
View more →
leathered
leatherlike
coriaceous
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for leathery
See all rhymes for leathery →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.
