Suit Definition: Pronunciation and Common Phrases

The following are five examples simply illustrating the common application of the term “suit” in an everyday English conversation.

You can make the “suit” description clear when you learn connected vocabulary and frequently used collocations.

Related nouns: outfit pants shirt

Synonyms (contextual): costume

Common collocations: business suit formal suit suit jacket suit and tie three-piece suit

Understanding how “suit” in English combines with other parts of speech, such as adjectives, verbs and nouns, helps you describe your opinion and actions.

With adjectives: new suit old suit elegant suit expensive suit tailored suit

With verbs: wear a suit buy a suit try on a suit iron a suit rent a suit

With nouns (noun + noun): suit trousers suit pocket suit shop suit size

What does “suit” mean in idiomatic contexts? The word has several interesting uses that will improve your exam scores.

• Suit yourself — used to tell someone they can do what they want, even if you disagree or don’t care.

  I offered her a ride, but she wanted to walk. I said, “Suit yourself.”

• Birthday suit — a humorous way to say someone is wearing no clothes at all.

  The baby ran around the house in his birthday suit after bath time.

Ready to check what you learned? Try these exercises to understand how well you remember collocations, idioms, and synonyms.

Curious how to say “suit” in other languages? Here is how this formal clothing item is named in three widely spoken European languages.

Learn a bit of fun information about fashion, cultural and symbolic meanings among pioneers that define a “suit” as much more than everyday clothing.

• The suit is just over 350 years old.

  The modern suit was established in England in the 1660s. King Charles II introduced a new form of men’s court dress that later evolved into what we now recognize as the business suit.

• The three-piece suit once had connotations of rebellion.

  In the 1800s, fashionable young men wore three-piece suits to show their difference from older generations. Today, this style is seen as classic and traditional.

• Astronauts wear special “suits.”

  The word “suit” also refers to protective clothing. Space suits allow astronauts to survive and work in the vacuum, extreme temperatures and other dangers of outer space.

• The most expensive suit ever made cost over $690,000.

  Created by luxury designers, this suit was covered with diamonds and precious stones. It was worn by the Indian Prime Minister and is listed in world record collections.

Here are some memorable quotes from famous people throughout history who made the description of “suit” humorous, memorable, and touching.