suit
B1Neutral to formal, depending on context.
Definition
Meaning
A set of clothes made of the same fabric, typically a jacket and trousers or skirt, designed to be worn together.
Something appropriate or acceptable; a legal case or lawsuit; one of the four categories in a deck of playing cards; a request or appeal, especially in romantic or archaic contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb 'to suit' focuses on appropriateness, matching, or being convenient. The noun can denote a garment, a legal action, or a set of related things.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. In legal contexts, the term is used similarly, though 'suit' as a noun meaning a business executive or lawyer is more common in American English (e.g., 'a corporate suit').
Connotations
In British English, 'suit' can informally denote a person in formal business attire, often with a slight negative connotation of being conventional or corporate.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties for clothing and legal meanings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
suit + [someone/something]suit + [someone] + to + [something]be suited + for/to + [something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “follow suit”
- “suit someone down to the ground”
- “suit yourself”
- “in one's birthday suit”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to formal attire ('wear a suit') or a legal action ('threaten with a suit').
Academic
Used in law ('a class-action suit') and occasionally in sociology to discuss social roles ('the suit as a symbol of conformity').
Everyday
Primarily refers to clothing ('buy a new suit') or convenience ('Does Friday suit you?').
Technical
In card games ('hearts is a suit'), law ('civil suit'), and computing (e.g., 'a test suite').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The early train would suit my schedule better.
- That colour doesn't suit her complexion.
American English
- Does 3 PM suit your calendar?
- The minimalist style suits the new apartment.
adverb
British English
- He dressed suit-appropriately for the interview.
American English
- She arrived, suited and booted, for the presentation.
adjective
British English
- He's not very suit-wearing, is he?
- The hotel has a suit-clad clientele.
American English
- It's a very suit-and-tie kind of place.
- The suit-clad executives filed into the meeting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He wore a black suit to the wedding.
- This time doesn't suit me.
- She decided to file a suit against the company.
- The new software is suited to small businesses.
- The judge dismissed the suit on a technicality.
- His analytical mind is well suited for a career in research.
- The sartorial choice of a three-piece suit was a deliberate power move.
- The regulatory framework must be suited to the evolving digital landscape.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a man in a SUIT at a court hearing for a LAWSUIT; both the clothes and the case 'suit' the formal situation.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPROPRIATENESS IS WELL-FITTING CLOTHING (e.g., 'That role suits her perfectly').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'suit' (clothing) as 'костюм' when it refers to a tracksuit or casual outfit; Russian 'костюм' is more specific. 'Law suit' is 'иск' or 'судебный процесс', not 'свидание'. The verb 'to suit' is 'подходить', not 'следовать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'suit' for a single piece of clothing (e.g., a jacket alone). Confusing 'suit' with 'suite' (a set of rooms or software). Incorrect preposition: 'suited for' vs. 'suited to' (both are acceptable).
Practice
Quiz
In the context of card games, what does 'suit' refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on context. As clothing, it is neutral. In legal contexts ('lawsuit'), it is formal. The verb ('suit yourself') can be informal.
'Suit' refers to clothing or a legal case. 'Suite' refers to a set of rooms, furniture, or musical pieces. They are pronounced the same (/swiːt/).
Yes. For example: 'The climate suits olive cultivation,' or 'This arrangement suits our needs.'
It means to do the same as someone else, originating from card games where you must play a card of the same suit if you can.
Collections
Part of a collection
Colors and Clothes
A1 · 45 words · Colors and common items of clothing.