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

• 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

These days in college football, a list of suitors often is soon to follow, especially for a 6-foot-5½, 272-pound sophomore with a 38½-inch vertical leap and untapped potential. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2025

Liverpool, who Palace defeated on penalties in the Community Shield on Sunday, are one of Guehi’s suitors. —Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2025

The Steelers are a team worth keeping an eye on as a possible trade suitor. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025

While a church is the unconventional salvation of the Dayton Mall, other malls are also finding out-of-the-box suitors to fill big empty spaces. —Kevin Williams, CNBC, 9 Aug. 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