fitting

American  

[fit-ing] / ˈfɪt ɪŋ /

adjective

1. suitable or appropriate; proper or becoming.

   Synonyms:

   seemly, decorous, right, meet, fit

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noun

• fittings
  plural

1. the act of a person or thing that fits.

2. an act or instance of trying on clothes that are being made or altered to determine proper fit.

3. anything provided as equipment, parts, supply, etc.

4. Usually fittings. furniture, fixtures, etc., as of a building or apartment.

fitting British  

/ ˈfɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. appropriate or proper; suitable

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noun

1. an accessory or part

   an electrical fitting

2. (plural) furnishings or accessories in a building

3. work carried out by a fitter

4. the act of trying on clothes so that they can be adjusted to fit

5. size in clothes or shoes

   a narrow fitting

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• fittingness
  noun
• underfitting
  noun
• self-fitting
  adjective
• unfitting
  adjective
• well-fitting
  adjective
• fittingly
  adverb
• unfittingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• fittings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fitting

First recorded in 1525–35; fit ¹ + -ing ², -ing ¹

Explanation

Something fitting is perfectly appropriate or proper — it's just right. When someone finds your beloved lost turtle, it's fitting to offer them a reward, or at least a sincere thanks. If your cousin loves ponies, a pony theme is a fitting choice for his birthday party. As a noun, fitting has a completely different meaning. A clothing fitting is the process of trying on an outfit to see how it fits. A hardware or plumbing fitting is one small piece that fits into a bigger system. The thing all of these definitions have in common is the root word fit.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fitting fittings

"A true icon whose songs have crossed generations, these chart returns are a fitting celebration of Dolly's incredible life, career and lasting impact," they added.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Individually, they are stylists with distinct musical personalities, but they are exceptionally practiced in fitting in not only with each other but also with the orchestra at large.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

But “The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict,” out on Sept. 8, couldn’t land at a more fitting time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

With a few strokes of his pencil, Filippo Sorcinelli brought to life a flowing liturgical robe -- fitting for the man whose artistry and faith have cemented an international reputation for one-of-a-kind ecclesiastical attire.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Naheed brought the flower to her face as she remembered that day, a year ago, when nothing else was important to her except fitting in, being like everyone else.

From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin

They won’t be familiar with how certain fixtures and fittings operate — from sliding doors to shower handles — and things will inevitably get broken.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

Ahead of the big moment, Fatehi says she has been consistently rehearsing and doing costume fittings as she wants the performance to be "energetic, impactful and dynamic".

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

Juniors, age 17 and under, play for half the adult rates, and an instruction center offers club fittings, mental coaching, programming and daily clinics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026

By the end of the fittings, Hallyday had recut and resewn all three pieces several times, adjusting shades of white, reworking the skirt’s fabrics and refining the jacket’s cut, which was her biggest challenge.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

He bought himself the most up-to-date automobile, with leopard-skin upholstery and golden fittings worthy of an Arab prince, the largest, most ostentatious car ever seen in those parts.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Related Words

• apt
• felicitous
• proper