Unsuitable

How to spell unsuitable

10 letters · 4 syllables

How to pronounce unsuitable

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does unsuitable mean?

1. adjectiveNot right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or occasion.

Unsuitable in a sentence

• The cheap material proved unsuitable for outdoor use.

• The recruiter judged him unsuitable for the senior role.

Where does unsuitable come from?

Language of origin: French

This word is built from the verb 'suit', which English borrowed from Old French 'suir' or 'suivre', meaning 'to follow' or 'to pursue', itself descended from the Latin 'sequi', meaning 'to follow'. From the idea of following or matching came the sense of one thing fitting or being appropriate to another. The adjective 'suitable', recorded from the late 1500s, meant 'fitting' or 'appropriate', and the suffix '-able' (from Latin '-abilis') marks the capacity to fit. The negative prefix 'un-', a native Germanic element meaning 'not', was then attached to give 'unsuitable', literally 'not able to fit' a situation or purpose. The spelling trap lies in keeping the silent-looking blend together cleanly: a single 's' after the 'un-', the 'uit' cluster of 'suit', and the '-able' rather than '-ible' ending.

How the word is built

• un- (not)
• suit (from French 'suite', to follow/fit)
• -able (capable of, suitable for)