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

Two individuals familiar with the company said multiple suitors have been in discussions to acquire Vine’s stake in VREG as a whole. —Matt Donnelly, Variety, 12 Dec. 2024

Whether the Astros are even interested in acting as legitimate suitors is up for debate. —Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 10 Dec. 2024

Burnes might make even more than that, with multiple former Soto suitors pivoting to him as a priority. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

One suitor knows her as Mignon; another calls her Eve. —Alex Barasch, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 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