Suit vs. Suite — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on May 16, 2024
A "suit" typically refers to a set of clothes or a legal action, while a "suite" often denotes a set of rooms or a set of related software.
Difference Between Suit and Suite
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A "suit" primarily conveys the idea of a matching set of clothes, especially formal wear, often comprising a jacket and trousers or a skirt. On the other hand, a "suite" is commonly understood as a set of connected rooms, especially in a hotel, that function together to serve a particular purpose. These rooms might include a living area, bedroom, and bathroom.
The word "suit" can also pertain to the idea of appropriateness or fitting well. For instance, a particular behavior might "suit" a situation or a color might "suit" a person. Conversely, "suite" in a different context can indicate a collection of related things intended to be used together. This might apply to a suite of software applications designed to function in tandem.
In legal terms, a "suit" can be an action or process of suing in a court of law. This use is quite distinct from the realm of clothing. "Suite," when discussed in the context of music, refers to a composition made up of a series of instrumental dances, often in the same or related keys. This shows how varied the applications of these words can be.
A "suit" can also denote any of the four sets in a deck of cards – hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades. Meanwhile, "suite" in architectural parlance can also refer to a series of professional offices in a building. Both words, despite their phonetic similarities, are distinct in meaning and usage across different contexts.
Comparison Chart
Primary Meaning
A set of matching clothes
A set of connected rooms
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Secondary Meaning
Appropriateness or fitting well
A collection of related things intended to be used together
Contextual Usage
An action or process of suing in a court
A composition of a series of instrumental dances
Symbolic Representation
One of the four sets in a deck of cards
Series of professional offices in a building
Phonetics
Pronounced as "soot."
Pronounced as "sweet."
Compare with Definitions
Suit
A set of matching clothes, typically a jacket and trousers or skirt.
He wore a sharp black suit to the interview.
Suite
A set of rooms in a hotel or other public accommodation, connected and designed to be used together.
We booked a luxury suite for our honeymoon.
Suit
A claim or dispute brought to a court for adjudication.
She filed a suit against the company for negligence.
Suite
A set of rooms designated for one person's or family's use or for a particular purpose
A suite of reception rooms
Suit
Any of the four sets in a deck of cards: hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades.
Which suit does this card belong to?
Suite
A set of software programs designed to work together.
The office suite includes a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation software.
Suit
To be in accord; agree or match.
Suite
A musical composition made up of a series of dances or similar pieces.
The orchestra played a beautiful suite from a classic ballet.
Suit
Attendance required of a vassal at his feudal lord's court or manor.
Suite
A series of professional offices or services offered together in one location.
The medical suite had both a dentist and an optometrist.
Suit
To please; to make content; as, he is well suited with his place; to suit one's taste.
Suite
(computing) A group of related computer programs distributed together.
Suit
To agree; to accord; to be fitted; to correspond; - usually followed by with or to.
The place itself was suiting to his care.
Give me not an officeThat suits with me so ill.
Suite
A set of instrumental compositions, originally in dance style, to be played in succession.
Suit
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?
Suite
A group of people in attendance on a monarch or other person of high rank
The Royal Saloon was built for the use of the Queen and her suite
Suit
(Slang)A person, especially an executive, who wears one of these garments at work.
Suite
A set of programs with a uniform design and the ability to share data.
Suit
An outfit worn for a special activity
A diving suit.
A running suit.
Suite
A group of minerals, rocks, or fossils occurring together and characteristic of a location or period
Potassic rock suites are a characteristic feature of the area
Suit
A group of things used together; a set or collection
A suit of sails.
A suit of tools.
Suite
A staff of attendants or followers; a retinue.
Suit
(transitive) To be appropriate or apt for.
The nickname "Bullet" suits her, since she is a fast runner.
Suite
A group of related things intended to be used together; a set.
Suit
To dress; to clothe.
Suite
(music) An excerpt of instrumental music from a larger work that contains other elements besides the music; for example, the Nutcracker Suite is the music (but not the dancing) from the ballet The Nutcracker, and the Carmen Suite is the instrumental music (but not the singing and dancing) from the opera Carmen.
Suit
To please; to make content; to fit one's taste.
He is well suited with his place.
My new job suits me, as I work fewer hours and don't have to commute so much.
Suite
One of the old musical forms, before the time of the more compact sonata, consisting of a string or series of pieces all in the same key, mostly in various dance rhythms, with sometimes an elaborate prelude. Some composers of the present day affect the suite form.
Suit
(intransitive) To agree; to be fitted; to correspond (usually followed by to, archaically also followed by with)
Suite
A musical composition of several movements only loosely connected
Suit
One of the four sets of cards which constitute a pack; - each set consisting of thirteen cards bearing a particular emblem, as hearts, spades, clubs, or diamonds; also, the members of each such suit held by a player in certain games, such as bridge; as, hearts were her long suit.
To deal and shuffle, to divide and sortHer mingled suits and sequences.
Suite
Apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
Suit
Regular order; succession.
Every five and thirty years the same kind and suit of weather comes again.
Suite
The group following and attending to some important person
Suit
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
Suite
A matching set of furniture
Suit
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
Suite
A retinue or group accompanying an important person.
The ambassador arrived with his suite of advisers.
Suit
A set of outer clothes made of the same fabric and designed to be worn together, typically consisting of a jacket and trousers or a jacket and skirt
A pinstriped suit
Suite
(also st) A set of matching furniture
A dining room suite.
Suit
A number of things used together, and generally necessary to be united in order to answer their purpose; a number of things ordinarily classed or used together; a set; as, a suit of curtains; a suit of armor; a suit of clothes; a three-piece business suit.
Suite
A series of connected rooms, as in a hotel or office building, used as a single unit.
Suit
Be agreeable or acceptable;
This time suits me
Suite
An instrumental composition, especially of the 1600s or 1700s, consisting of a succession of dances in the same or related keys.
Suit
(Law)A lawsuit.
Suite
An instrumental composition consisting of a series of varying movements or pieces.
Suit
The act or an instance of courting a woman; courtship
She was inclined to accept his suit.
Suite
A group of software products packaged and sold together, usually having a consistent look and feel, a common installation, and shared macros.
Suit
A man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage);
Its was a brief and intense courtship
Suite
A group of procedures that work cooperatively
The TCP/IP suite of protocols includes FTP and Telnet.
Suit
Any of the sets into which a pack of playing cards is divided (in conventional packs comprising spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs).
Suite
A group or train of attendants, servants etc.; a retinue.
Suit
A lawsuit.
Suite
A connected series or succession of objects; a number of things used or classed together.
A suite of rooms
A suite of minerals
Suit
The process of trying to win a woman's affection with a view to marriage
He could not compete with John in Marian's eyes and his suit came to nothing
Suite
A group of connected rooms, usually separable from other rooms by means of access.
The Presidential suite is well appointed and allows for good security.
Suit
A complete set of sails required for a ship or for a set of spars
They went ashore and changed to another suit of sails
Suite
(music) A musical form, popular before the time of the sonata, consisting of a string or series of pieces all in the same key, mostly in various dance rhythms, with sometimes an elaborate prelude.
Suit
Be convenient for or acceptable to
The flat has two bedrooms—if it suits, you can have one of them
What time would suit you?
Suit
Enhance the features, figure, or character of (someone)
The dress didn't suit her
Suit
Put on clothes, especially for a particular activity
I suited up and entered the water
Suit
A set of matching outer garments, especially one consisting of a coat with trousers or a skirt, often worn on formal occasions.
Suit
To meet the requirements of; fit
This candidate does not suit our qualifications.
Suit
To make appropriate or suitable; adapt
Builders who suit the house to the owner's specifications.
Suit
To be appropriate for; befit
A color that suits you.
Suit
To please; satisfy
A choice that suits us all.
Suit
To provide with clothing; dress
The NCOs suited the recruits in green uniforms.
Suit
To be suitable or acceptable.
Suit
A set of clothes to be worn together, now especially a man's matching jacket and trousers (also business suit or lounge suit), or a similar outfit for a woman.
Nick hired a navy-blue suit for the wedding.
Suit
(by extension) A garment or set of garments suitable and/or required for a given task or activity: space suit, boiler suit, protective suit, swimsuit.
Suit
A person who wears matching jacket and trousers, especially a boss or a supervisor.
Be sure to keep your nose to the grindstone today; the suits are making a "surprise" visit to this department.
Suit
A full set of armour.
Suit
(legal) The attempt to gain an end by legal process; a process instituted in a court of law for the recovery of a right or claim; a lawsuit.
If you take my advice, you'll file a suit against him immediately.
Suit
Petition, request, entreaty.
Suit
The act of following or pursuing; pursuit, chase.
Suit
Pursuit of a love-interest; wooing, courtship.
Suit
(obsolete) The act of suing; the pursuit of a particular object or goal.
Suit
(archaic) A group of similar or related objects or items considered as a whole; a suite (of rooms etc.)
Suit
(transitive) To make proper or suitable; to adapt or fit.
Suit
To be suitable or apt for one's image.
The ripped jeans didn't suit her elegant image.
That new top suits you. Where did you buy it?
Suit
The act of following or pursuing, as game; pursuit.
Suit
The act of suing; the process by which one endeavors to gain an end or an object; an attempt to attain a certain result; pursuit; endeavor.
Thenceforth the suit of earthly conquest shone.
Suit
The act of wooing in love; the solicitation of a woman in marriage; courtship.
Rebate your loves, each rival suit suspend,Till this funereal web my labors end.
Suit
The attempt to gain an end by legal process; an action or process for the recovery of a right or claim; legal application to a court for justice; prosecution of right before any tribunal; as, a civil suit; a criminal suit; a suit in chancery.
I arrest thee at the suit of Count Orsino.
In England the several suits, or remedial instruments of justice, are distinguished into three kinds - actions personal, real, and mixed.
Suit
That which follows as a retinue; a company of attendants or followers; the assembly of persons who attend upon a prince, magistrate, or other person of distinction; - often written suite, and pronounced swēt.
Suit
Things that follow in a series or succession; the individual objects, collectively considered, which constitute a series, as of rooms, buildings, compositions, etc.; - often written suite, and pronounced swēt.
Suit
Someone who dresses in a business suit, as contrasted with more informal attire;
Suit
To fit; to adapt; to make proper or suitable; as, to suit the action to the word.
Suit
To be fitted to; to accord with; to become; to befit.
Ill suits his cloth the praise of railing well.
Raise her notes to that sublime degreeWhich suits song of piety and thee.
Suit
To dress; to clothe.
So went he suited to his watery tomb.
Suit
A businessman dressed in a business suit;
All the suits care about is the bottom line
Suit
A petition or appeal made to a person of superior status or rank
Suit
Be agreeable or acceptable to;
This suits my needs
Suit
Enhance the appearance of;
Mourning becomes Electra
This behavior doesn't suit you!
Suit
A quest or effort to gain someone's favor or love.
He paid suit to her for many years before she agreed to marry him.
Suit
(Games)Any of the four sets of 13 playing cards (clubs, diamonds, hearts, and spades) in a standard deck, the members of which bear the same marks.
Suit
The full set of sails required for a ship.
Suit
(card games) Each of the sets of a pack of cards distinguished by color and/or specific emblems, such as the spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs of traditional Anglo, Hispanic, and French playing cards.
Suit
(obsolete) Regular order; succession.
Every five and thirty years the same kind and suit of weather comes again.
Suit
(archaic) A company of attendants or followers; a retinue.
Suit
Accord or comport with;
This kind of behavior does not suit a young woman!
Suit
The act of being suitable or appropriate for a particular purpose.
The rainy weather didn't suit our plans for a picnic.
Common Curiosities
What is the primary meaning of "suit"?
A "suit" most commonly refers to a set of matching clothes, especially formal wear.
What does "suite" usually refer to?
A "suite" primarily denotes a set of connected rooms, such as in a hotel, designed to be used together.
Can "suit" also imply a legal action?
Yes, a "suit" can indicate an action or process of suing in a court of law.
Is there a musical context to the word "suite"?
Yes, in music, a "suite" is a composition made up of a series of instrumental dances or pieces.
How do you pronounce "suit" and "suite"?
"Suit" is pronounced as "soot," while "suite" is pronounced as "sweet."
Does "suit" have any romantic connotations?
Yes, "suit" can imply a quest or effort to gain someone's favor or love.
Is "suite" used in the context of professional settings?
Yes, "suite" can refer to a series of professional offices or services offered in a single location.
In cards, what does "suit" mean?
In a deck of cards, a "suit" refers to one of the four sets: hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades.
Can "suite" refer to software?
Yes, a "suite" can mean a collection of related software programs designed to function together, like an office suite.
How are "suit" and "suite" different in terms of pronunciation and meaning?
Though they sound similar, "suit" is pronounced "soot" and primarily refers to matching clothes or legal action, while "suite," pronounced "sweet," denotes connected rooms or a set of related things.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
