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

Among the suitors for Crochet are the Philadelphia Phillies, who have been connected to Crochet dating back to this summer's MLB trade deadline. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Still, the task of narrating the lives of Jacob and Wilhelm remains as thorny as the hedge that trapped Briar Rose’s suitors. —Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024

One audience member wove yet another parallel between the film and real life by mentioning how Penelope could stand for arthouse film and the many suitors who tried to shake her intent could be seen as those standing in the way of getting independent films made. —Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024

Hermès, which has owned a 25 percent stake in Vaucher since 2006, may seem like the logical suitor. —Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 2 Nov. 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