suit

/sut/

/sut/

Other forms: suited; suits; suiting

Among many other meanings, a suit is a jacket and pants that match — formalwear for men. Suits are well-suited (appropriate) for some jobs and formal events, like a funeral.

A suit is also short for a lawsuit — like when you file a suit against a doctor who removed the wrong kidney. A suit is also an appeal to someone who has something you want — like money or affection. In cards, the suits are hearts, diamonds, spades and clubs. If a hat looks good on you, it suits you. In fact, you can say of just about anything you like, "That suits me." Like a well-fitting suit, when something suits you, you enjoy it and feel comfortable with it.

Definitions of suit

1. noun

   a set of garments (usually including a jacket and trousers or skirt) for outerwear all of the same fabric and color
   “they buried him in his best suit”

   synonyms: suit of clothes

   types:

   business suit

   a suit of clothes traditionally worn by businessmen

   double-breasted suit

   a suit with a double-breasted jacket

   pinstripe

   a suit made from a fabric with very thin stripes

   single-breasted suit

   a suit having a single-breasted jacket

   slack suit

   casual dress consisting of slacks and matching jacket

   zoot suit

   a flashy suit of extreme cut

   pants suit, pantsuit

   a pair of pants and a matching jacket worn by women

   three-piece suit

   a business suit consisting of a jacket and vest and trousers

   lounge suit, two-piece, two-piece suit

   a business suit consisting of a matching jacket and skirt or trousers

   type of:

   garment

   an article of clothing
2. noun

   (slang) a businessman dressed in a business suit
   “all the suits care about is the bottom line”

   type of:

   businessman, man of affairs

   a person engaged in commercial or industrial business (especially an owner or executive)
3. noun

   a comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
   “the family brought suit against the landlord”

   synonyms: case, causa, cause, lawsuit

   types:

   civil suit

   a lawsuit alleging violations of civil law by the defendant

   class action, class-action suit

   a lawsuit brought by a representative member of a large group of people on behalf of all members of the group

   countersuit

   a legal proceeding brought against someone who has sued you

   criminal suit

   a lawsuit alleging violations of criminal law by the defendant

   moot

   a hypothetical case that law students argue as an exercise

   bastardy proceeding, paternity suit

   a lawsuit filed to determine the father of a child born out of wedlock (and to provide for the support of the child once paternity is determined)

   type of:

   legal proceeding, proceeding, proceedings

   (law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked
4. noun

   a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)
   synonyms: courting, courtship, wooing

   types:

   bundling

   a onetime custom during courtship of unmarried couples occupying the same bed without undressing

   type of:

   appeal, entreaty, prayer

   earnest or urgent request
5. noun

   a petition or appeal made to a person of superior status or rank
   type of:

   appeal, entreaty, prayer

   earnest or urgent request
6. noun

   playing card in any of four sets of 13 cards in a pack; each set has its own symbol and color
   “a flush is five cards in the same suit”

   “in bridge you must follow suit”

   “what suit is trumps?”

   types:

   major suit

   (bridge) a suit of superior scoring value, either spades or hearts

   minor suit

   ( bridge) a suit of inferior scoring value, either diamonds or clubs

   trump

   (card games) the suit that has been declared to rank above all other suits for the duration of the hand

   type of:

   playing card

   one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games
7. verb

   be agreeable or acceptable
   “This time suits me”

   types:

   agree

   be agreeable or suitable

   type of:

   be

   have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
8. verb

   be agreeable or acceptable to
   “This suits my needs”

   synonyms: accommodate, fit

   type of:

   conform to, fit, meet

   satisfy a condition or restriction
9. verb

   accord or comport with
   synonyms: befit, beseem

   type of:

   agree, check, correspond, fit, gibe, jibe, match, tally

   be compatible, similar, or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
10. verb

    enhance the appearance of
    “This behavior doesn't suit you!”

    synonyms: become

    type of:

    beautify, embellish, fancify, prettify

    make more beautiful