Fleece
FLEES
/fliːs/
A soft, warm synthetic fabric with a texture similar to sheep's wool, or the woolly coat of a sheep.
In modern clothing contexts, it almost always refers to lightweight, insulating polyester fabric (polar fleece) used for activewear and casual layers.
The story behind the word. Originally, 'fleece' referred strictly to the woolly coat of a sheep. In 1979, Malden Mills (now Polartec) invented a lightweight, fuzzy polyester fabric that mimicked the insulating properties of wool without the weight, forever changing the meaning of the word in modern fashion.
Word relationships
- shearling: Shearling is natural sheepskin with the wool left on, while fleece is usually a synthetic, polyester imitation.
- mesh: Mesh is a highly breathable, perforated fabric designed to let air pass through, offering no insulation.
Commonly confused with
- Wool: Wool is a natural fiber harvested from sheep, while modern fleece is a synthetic fabric made from polyester (often recycled plastic).
Word family
- fleecy (Adjective): Soft and woolly like fleece.
- fleeced (Verb): Past tense of fleece (swindled or sheared).
Collocations
- polar fleece
- fleece jacket
- fleece lining
- soft fleece
Idioms & expressions
- fleece someone (to swindle or overcharge someone)
Example sentences
- "She zipped up her fleece jacket as the temperature began to drop on the mountain trail." Describing a hiker's mid-layer.
- "The sheep had thick fleeces that kept them warm in the highland winter." A real citation describing sheep farming.
Memory hook
Think of a 'FLEES' (fleece) jacket that helps you 'flee' from the freezing cold weather. Fuzzy, lightweight warmth.
When not to use
Do not use to describe smooth, woven fabrics like silk, cotton, or heavy structured wool.
Fun facts
- Synthetic fleece is hydrophobic, meaning it absorbs less than 1% of its weight in water, allowing it to keep insulating even when wet.
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