Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Late 20th century ·1982
Pleather
plastic leather
- Meaning
- An imitation leather made from plastic.
- Source words
- plastic + leather
- Coined by
- unknown
- Year
- 1982
Background
American garment-industry shorthand, popularised by the 1990s grunge and goth subcultures. Cheaper than leather and free of animal-product concerns; modern versions are increasingly made from polyurethane rather than PVC.
Late 20th century
Marketing, media, and the early internet. Infomercial, emoticon, workaholic — the coinages name phenomena of mass media and white-collar life. Several predate the decades they're associated with.
Two words, one coinage.
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