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 of suitor

• boyfriend
• lover
• wooer
• man
• fellow

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

The New York Yankees have received a lot of buzz as a suitor for the Japanese star, but there are likely to be more teams in the sweepstakes. —Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

One of the Red Sox’s biggest needs this offseason is finding a power bat to anchor the middle of the lineup, and the club should be among the numerous suitors for the top free agent sluggers. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 7 Dec. 2025

The suitors were told to put their best foot forward. —Michelle F. Davis, Fortune, 6 Dec. 2025

Comcast, the third suitor, was trading up about 1%. —Mike Snider, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for suitor

• neuter
• pewter
• router
• scooter
• shooter
• tutor
• commuter
• computer
• polluter
• recruiter
• microcomputer
• minicomputer

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