suitor

American  

[soo-ter] / ˈsu tər /

noun

1. a man who courts or woos a woman.

2. Law. a petitioner or plaintiff.

3. a person who sues or petitions for anything.

4. Informal. an individual who seeks to buy a business.

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suitor British  

/ ˈsuːtə, ˈsjuːt- /

noun

1. a man who courts a woman; wooer

2. law a person who brings a suit in a court of law; plaintiff

3. rare a person who makes a request or appeal for anything

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Etymology

Origin of suitor

1250–1300; Middle English s ( e ) utor, suitour < Anglo-French < Latin secūtor, equivalent to secū-, variant stem of sequī to follow + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

Under U.K. rules, Rio can’t pursue Glencore for at least six months, except in specific circumstances, such as a rival suitor emerging.

From The Wall Street Journal

Being a snarky 16-year-old boy, I couldn’t care less about society ladies or their suitors.

From The Wall Street Journal

Out of contract at Crystal Palace at the end of this season, the England defender had suitors across Europe.

From BBC

They add that they hope Beazley still has the opportunity to court other suitors, though the door seems to be closing.

From The Wall Street Journal

It centers on the daughter of a gold miner and her suitor who cannot swim to save her.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• admirer
• beau
• boyfriend
• lover
• paramour