Suede is a type of soft, fuzzy leather made from the underside of animal skin, usually from lamb, goat, or calf. If you've ever touched regular leather, you know it's smooth and somewhat shiny. Suede is the opposite: it has a velvety texture that feels almost like very short fur or heavy velvet.

Suede is prized for its luxurious feel and appearance, but it requires more care than regular leather. It stains easily, especially from water, which is why you'll see special suede brushes and protector sprays in shoe stores. Many dress shoes, jackets, and furniture pieces are made from suede because of how elegant it looks and feels.

You might also hear the word used for fabrics that imitate real suede. These synthetic versions try to capture that same soft, matte texture without using actual leather. Whether someone mentions suede boots, a suede couch, or a suede jacket, they're describing something with that distinctive velvety surface that makes you want to run your fingers across it.

As an adjective, suede describes something made of suede or having a suede-like texture.