Fleece vs. Wool — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 21, 2023
Fleece is a soft fabric, often synthetic, while wool is a natural fiber obtained from the coats of sheep.
Difference Between Fleece and Wool
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Fleece, in modern textile context, refers to a lightweight, warm, and soft fabric. It's often made from synthetic materials like polyester, and its design primarily aims at mimicking the characteristics of wool. Fleece has become popular for sportswear and casual wear due to its warmth without weight.
Wool, in contrast, is a natural textile fiber derived from the coats of sheep. Since ancient times, wool has been valued for its warmth, resilience, and natural insulating properties. The unique structure of wool fibers allows them to trap air, making wool garments excellent for thermal insulation.
However, the term "fleece" historically also refers to the coat of wool on a sheep or a similar animal, prior to shearing. In this sense, fleece becomes the raw material that, after processing, gives wool. But when people speak of a fleece jacket or blanket, they're usually referring to the soft, fuzzy synthetic material.
Fleece fabrics, being synthetic, often offer advantages in terms of ease of care, quick drying, and resistance to moisture. Wool, however, boasts natural properties like flame resistance, moisture-wicking, and the ability to regulate temperature, keeping wearers warm in the cold and cooler in the heat.
Comparison Chart
Source
Often synthetic materials like polyester
Natural fiber from the coats of sheep
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Historical Definition
The coat of wool on animals
Fiber obtained from sheep's coat
Uses
Sportswear, casual wear, blankets
Clothing, rugs, blankets
Moisture Resistance
Often more resistant to moisture and quick drying
Naturally wicks away moisture, can absorb a third of its weight
Insulating Properties
Warm without much weight
Excellent thermal insulation due to trapped air within the fibers
Compare with Definitions
Fleece
A soft, warm, synthetic fabric.
She wore a fleece jacket on her morning run.
Wool
A material known for its thermal and moisture-wicking attributes.
Wool socks are perfect for hiking due to their breathability.
Fleece
Fabric resembling sheep's wool in texture.
The blanket, made of fleece, felt soft against her skin.
Wool
A natural, curly fiber with insulating properties.
Wool blankets have been used for centuries for warmth.
Fleece
A material designed to mimic wool's characteristics.
His fleece pullover kept him warm during the hike.
Wool
The fine, soft, curly hair forming the fleece of sheep.
The wool market saw a surge in prices this year.
Fleece
The woolly covering of a sheep or goat
He clutched the ram by two handfuls of thick fleece
As the sheep came on board, we grabbed their long shaggy fleeces
Wool
Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other animals, including cashmere and mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, hide and fur clothing from bison, angora from rabbits, and other types of wool from camelids.Wool consists of protein together with a small percentage of lipids. In this regard it is chemically quite distinct from the more dominant textile, cotton, which is mainly cellulose.
Fleece
A soft warm fabric with a texture similar to sheep's wool, used as a lining material
A reversible fleece jacket
Wool
The fine, soft curly or wavy hair forming the coat of a sheep, goat, or similar animal, especially when shorn and prepared for use in making cloth or yarn
Harris tweed is made from pure new wool
Fleece
Obtain a great deal of money from (someone), typically by overcharging or swindling them
The city's cab drivers are notorious for fixing fares and fleecing tourists
Wool
The dense, soft, often curly hair forming the coat of sheep and certain other mammals, such as the goat and alpaca, consisting of cylindrical strands of keratin covered by minute overlapping scales and much valued as a textile fiber.
Fleece
Cover as if with a fleece
The sky was half blue, half fleeced with white clouds
Wool
Fabric or yarn made of this hair.
Fleece
The coat of wool of a sheep or similar animal.
Wool
Hairy or downy material on a plant or animal, as on certain caterpillars.
Fleece
The yield of wool shorn from a sheep at one time.
Wool
Filamentous or fibrous material similar to the wool of a sheep or other mammal.
Fleece
A soft woolly covering or mass.
Wool
The hair of the sheep, llama and some other ruminants.
Fleece
A soft, warm, lightweight, usually synthetic fabric with a deep pile, used primarily for clothing and blankets.
Wool
A cloth or yarn made from the wool of sheep.
Fleece
A garment, especially a shirt or jacket, made of such fabric.
Wool
Anything with a texture like that of wool.
Fleece
To defraud of money or property; swindle.
Wool
A fine fiber obtained from the leaves of certain trees, such as firs and pines.
Fleece
To shear the fleece from.
Wool
(obsolete) Short, thick hair, especially when crisped or curled.
Fleece
To cover with a fleece or similar covering.
Wool
Yarn, including that made from synthetic fibers.
Fleece
(uncountable) Hair or wool of a sheep or similar animal
Wool
A resident of a satellite town outside Liverpool, such as St Helens or Warrington. See also Yonner.
Fleece
(uncountable) Insulating skin with the wool attached
Wool
The soft and curled, or crisped, species of hair which grows on sheep and some other animals, and which in fineness sometimes approaches to fur; - chiefly applied to the fleecy coat of the sheep, which constitutes a most essential material of clothing in all cold and temperate climates.
Fleece
(countable) A textile similar to velvet, but with a longer pile that gives it a softness and a higher sheen.
Wool
Short, thick hair, especially when crisped or curled.
Wool of bat and tongue of dog.
Fleece
(countable) An insulating wooly jacket
Wool
A sort of pubescence, or a clothing of dense, curling hairs on the surface of certain plants.
Fleece
(roofing) Mat or felts composed of fibers, sometimes used as a membrane backer.
Wool
A fabric made from the hair of sheep
Fleece
Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.
Wool
Fiber sheared from animals (such as sheep) and twisted into yarn for weaving
Fleece
The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine.
Wool
Outer coat of especially sheep and yaks
Fleece
(transitive) To con or trick (someone) out of money.
Wool
Fiber obtained from sheep's coats.
She knitted a scarf using pure wool.
Fleece
(transitive) To shear the fleece from (a sheep or other animal).
During spring shearing we have to fleece all the sheep in just a few days.
Wool
Yarn or textile made from the fleece of sheep.
He wore a wool sweater to stay warm.
Fleece
(transitive) To cover with, or as if with, wool.
Fleece
The entire coat of wool that covers a sheep or other similar animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one time.
Who shore meLike a tame wether, all my precious fleece.
Fleece
Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.
Fleece
The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife from the cylinder of a carding machine.
Fleece
To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.
Fleece
To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by trickery or fraud; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions.
Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them, the people were finely fleeced.
Fleece
To spread over as with wool.
Fleece
The wool of a sheep or similar animal
Fleece
Tanned skin of a sheep with the fleece left on; used for clothing
Fleece
A soft bulky fabric with deep pile; used chiefly for clothing
Fleece
Outer coat of especially sheep and yaks
Fleece
Rip off; ask an unreasonable price
Fleece
Shear the wool from;
Shear sheep
Fleece
The woolly covering of a sheep or goat.
The farmer sheared the fleece off the sheep in spring.
Fleece
The entire coat of wool shorn from an animal.
The golden fleece was sought by many ancient adventurers.
Common Curiosities
Which is warmer, fleece or wool?
Both provide warmth, but wool has natural temperature-regulating properties.
Do fleece fabrics come from animals?
Not typically. While "fleece" historically referred to sheep's wool, most modern fleece fabrics are synthetic.
Why is wool considered breathable?
Wool fibers have a unique structure that allows air to be trapped, providing insulation and breathability.
Why is wool used for winter garments?
Wool's natural insulating properties keep wearers warm in cold conditions.
Does wool shrink when washed?
Wool can shrink if washed in hot water or exposed to high heat, so care is advised.
Is all fleece made from polyester?
While many fleece fabrics are polyester, there are variations made from other materials or blends.
Is fleece a type of wool?
Historically, "fleece" referred to a sheep's coat, but modern fleece fabric is often synthetic, not wool.
Can fleece be recycled?
Yes, many fleece fabrics, especially those from polyester, can be recycled.
Is wool hypoallergenic?
Wool is naturally resistant to bacteria and dust mites, making it hypoallergenic for many people.
How is fleece different from velour?
While both are soft and have a pile texture, fleece is often warmer and lighter, while velour is more velvety.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
