suitor
Americannoun
-
a man who courts or woos a woman.
-
Law. a petitioner or plaintiff.
-
a person who sues or petitions for anything.
-
Informal. an individual who seeks to buy a business.
noun
-
a man who courts a woman; wooer
-
law a person who brings a suit in a court of law; plaintiff
-
rare a person who makes a request or appeal for anything
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
Explanation
A suitor is a guy who asks you out on a date. You can describe your sister's prom escort as her suitor. The noun suitor is an old fashioned word for a somewhat old fashioned kind of person: a man who woos or courts a woman. If a boy serenades you from below your bedroom window, he is your suitor, especially if he hopes to marry you one day. In the fourteenth century, a suitor was a fan or follower — the romantic meaning came along almost two hundred years later. The root is the Latin word sequi, "to attend or follow."
Vocabulary lists containing suitor
The Odyssey
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Much Ado About Nothing
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Suffix -or, Part 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The move marks EQT’s last-ditch attempt to reach a friendly deal after some Intertek shareholders signaled, even before the latest offer was disclosed, that they wanted the company to engage with its suitor.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026
Penelope is later seen declaring that "Ithaca's king is coming back", but her main suitor Antinous refuses to believe it.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
After such a steep selloff in Brown-Forman’s stock, there is reason to believe it has become attractive to a suitor.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
Hassabis came out to the West Coast to have lunch with Larry Page, still the strongest suitor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
Antinoos replied: “What high and mighty talk, Telemakhos! No holding you! If every suitor gave what I may give him, he could be kept for months—kept out of sight!”
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
