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

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

Catching them in nets and fitting the instruments takes about 20 minutes: a brief stressful episode after which the animals return to normal behavior.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Under the new regime, Boeing, which was a Seattle institution as well as manufacturing legend, began outsourcing, with Dreamliner parts coming in from around the globe, not always fitting together and resulting in flawed craft.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

Bocelli added: "The country's rich choral heritage and deep connection with music make this city a fitting setting for this special concert."

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

It’s been years since we’ve been around each other this much, and it feels awkward, like we’re trying on clothes that stopped fitting a long time ago.

From "The Wrong Way Home" by Kate O’Shaughnessy

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

"But I was thrown in the deep end, because by the time we arrived in London, there was less than a week to go. I only had time for two dress fittings."

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 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

Each year, prominent designers in the field guide upperclassmen through the process of creating a runway-ready garment, refining and improving pieces through a series of fittings.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026

The horse was dark and shiny, outfitted with black leather and an assortment of brass fittings and worn ropes.

From "The Marvels" by Brian Selznick

Related Words

• apt
• felicitous
• proper