ill-fitting

American  

[il-fit-ing] / ˈɪlˈfɪt ɪŋ /

adjective

1. (of a garment) not fitting well.

2. not appropriate or suitable.

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Etymology

Origin of ill-fitting

First recorded in 1865–70; ill ( def. ) + fitting ( def. )

Explanation

Clothes that are ill-fitting are too big or too small — or maybe too big in some places, and too small in others. Your ill-fitting pants may require a belt to keep them from falling down. An ill-fitting dress might be too short and too tight in the arms, and an ill-fitting suit might be big enough to fit two of you. When something fits, it's the proper size and shape for your body, and when it doesn't fit, it's ill-fitting. This adjective combines ill-, "badly" or "not well," with fitting, from the verb fit, "be fitting or proper" and "be the right shape."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ill-fitting

Coming home without that unused tortilla press or those ill-fitting shorts does provide a certain sense of satisfaction.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026

They were an odd pair: The middle-aged man, wearing a wool overcoat and what looked like an ill-fitting gray toupee, barely spoke.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026

Fuentes is a dweeby kid in an ill-fitting suit, with none of the congenial charms of Joe Rogan or masculine swagger of Andrew Tate.

From Slate ● Dec. 5, 2025

John Williams, who co-ordinates the girls' teams, said they had educated players about how an ill-fitting sports bra can create an imbalance when running and cause injury.

From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025

My clothes felt ill-fitting; and for all my letters to men of power, I was unsure of how I should act.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Related Words

• annoying
• awkward
• bitter
• difficult
• distressing
• hard
• harsh
• troublesome