suitor

noun

suit·​or ˈsü-tər 

1

: one that petitions or entreats

2

: a party to a suit at law

3

: one who courts a woman or seeks to marry her

4

: one who seeks to take over a business

Synonyms

• gallant
• swain
• wooer

Examples of suitor in a Sentence

He was her most persistent suitor, and she eventually agreed to marry him.

An unwanted suitor is buying up the company's stock.

Recent Examples on the Web

Employing the fake dating gone wrong trope, Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) steps in for her best friend Jin Young-seo (Seol In-ah) on a blind date, only to find out the suitor is the CEO of her company, Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop). —Megan Vick, EW.com, 30 May 2024

Cressida also competed for the attention of the same suitor, Lord Debling (Sam Phillips), as Penelope, which made fans question her true intentions. —Stephanie Wenger, Peoplemag, 22 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sutour, suytour, follower, petitioner, from Anglo-French siuter, suytour, from Latin secutor follower, from sequi to follow — more at sue

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

suitor

noun

suit·​or ˈsüt-ər 

1

: one that petitions or pleads

2

: a party to a suit at law

3

: a man who courts a woman or seeks to marry her

Legal Definition

suitor

noun

suit·​or ˈsü-tər 

1

: a party to a suit

2

: one that seeks to take over a business

approved the merger before the suitor obtained a 10% stake

—Wall Street Journal