English Reference
Adjective

unsuitable

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ənˈsutəbəɫ/ UK /ʌnsˈuːtəbəl/ un·suit·able

adj.not right or appropriate for a particular person, purpose, or situation. You use this to describe something that does not fit because it is the wrong style, size, or quality.

adj.inappropriate or unfit for a specific purpose, person, or occasion. Often used to describe content, behavior, or physical conditions that fail to meet required standards or social norms.


SIMPLE

The movie is unsuitable for young children.

CONTEXTUAL

Heavy wool coats are unsuitable for the tropical climate of the island.

COMPLEX

The board rejected the proposal, citing that the aggressive expansion strategy was unsuitable for the company's current financial stability and long-term risk profile.

Usage

Typically followed by the preposition 'for' when specifying the target or purpose.

Pitfall
The dress is unsuitable to the party.The dress is unsuitable for the party.

Unsuitable almost always takes the preposition 'for' rather than 'to' when describing a situation or event.

This is mainly due to concerns about people offering unsuitable foods and birds becoming dependent on humans.

ScienceDaily· 24 Aug 2026

From un- + suitable.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated