Leathery describes something that feels or looks tough, dry, and thick like leather. When you touch a piece of leather, like a baseball glove or a saddle, it has a particular texture: firm, slightly rough, and durable. Things become leathery when they've been toughened or dried out over time.

You might describe someone's leathery skin after years of working outdoors in the sun and wind. A sailor who has spent decades on the ocean might have leathery, weathered hands. Certain leaves feel leathery when they're thick and waxy, like the leaves of a magnolia tree. Even food can be leathery: if you overcook a steak, it might become tough and leathery instead of tender and juicy.

The word usually suggests something has been transformed by exposure or use. A new belt is smooth and supple, but after years of wear, it might become more leathery. While leathery often describes texture, it can also describe appearance, like the leathery bark of an old oak tree, cracked and weathered by seasons of heat, cold, rain, and wind.