suit

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "suit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as either a noun or a verb. Noun: She wore a stunning navy blue suit to the formal event. Verb: He decided to suit up for the party.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

'What do you call a scouser in a suit?

The Guardian

We hope that his fellow executives will now follow suit and announce they will also be giving up their large bonuses as well".

The Guardian

I'll wear my lucky suit, the one Prada gave me to wear at the Golden Globes".

The Guardian - Film

So far, even though the site has received more than a hundred legal threats, almost no one has filed suit.

The Economist

Boyfriend-fit tweed jackets worn over pretty floral dresses were charming, and a pinstripe suit paired with a plaid shirt had that smart-casual contrast just right.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He was a former advertising agency "suit", an Oxford history graduate recruited in the 50s when London establishment ad agencies recruited those kinds of people.

The Guardian

Several past and present England internationals – an entire slip cordon – followed suit.

The Guardian - Sport

When he gave up smoking after major heart surgery in 1997, all his ministers had to follow suit, and he banned smoking in public places.

The Guardian

It is cool here!" Bobo, who speaks six languages, was a charming guide with a great sense of humour – and great fashion sense, mixing a batik suit with a modern gilet, or zebra-print shorts with a trendy T-shirt.

The Guardian - Travel

QC Mukul Chawla showed evidence of how some emails were rewritten and re-issued on certain days to suit Hayes.

The Guardian - Business

Confrontations like Sheehan's are "a pretty typical situation that happens across the country these days", said Ron Honberg, director of policy and legal affairs at the National Alliance for Mental Illness (Nami), which filed a brief supporting her suit.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "suit" as a verb to mean 'to be appropriate', use it transitively without a preposition. For example, write 'this color suits you' instead of 'suits to you'.

Common error

Writers often mistakenly use "suit" when they mean "suite". Remember that "suit" is for jackets and trousers or legal cases, while 'suite' is used for a set of connected hotel rooms, a musical composition or a collection of software applications.

Linguistic Context

The word "suit" functions primarily as either a noun or a verb. As a noun, it describes a set of matching clothes or a legal proceeding. As a verb, it signifies the act of being appropriate or making something suitable. Ludwig AI confirms its high utility in both forms across various professional domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"suit" is an exceptionally versatile English word that transitions between fashion, law and functional compatibility. Ludwig AI data shows it is most frequently used in professional and news media contexts to describe sets of clothing or legal actions. A common point of confusion is its homophone "suite", which refers to a set of rooms or software. When used as a verb, it effectively communicates the idea of appropriateness or adaptation. Whether you are 'suiting up' for an event or 'filing suit' in court, this term remains a cornerstone of formal and neutral English. Always ensure the context is clear to avoid ambiguity between its various noun and verb meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lawsuit

the most direct and common synonym for the legal noun

be appropriate for

replaces the verb sense indicating compatibility

be suitable

an adjectival phrasing of the verbal action

formal attire

specific to the clothing sense and carries a more professional tone

match well

focuses on aesthetic or functional alignment

legal proceeding

replaces the legal noun sense with a more descriptive term

litigation

a technical legal synonym for the act of suing

clothing ensemble

a sophisticated fashion-oriented alternative for the noun

correspond to

replaces the verb sense in a logical or structural context

accommodate the needs

a specific functional verbal phrase often used in business

FAQs

How do I use "suit" in a sentence?

You can use it as a noun for clothing like 'he wore a formal "outfit"' or as a verb meaning to be appropriate, such as 'that schedule will "work for him"'.

What is the difference between "suit" and suite?

While "suit" refers to clothing or a legal case, a "suite" refers specifically to a set of hotel rooms, a musical work or a software package.

What can I say instead of "suit" as a verb?

Depending on your specific context, you can use verbs like "fit", "match" or "befit".

Is it filed "suit" or filed a lawsuit?

Both are grammatically correct. To "file suit" is a concise legal expression, whereas to "file a lawsuit" is more common in general news reporting and everyday speech.