Blazer vs. Suit — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 28, 2023
A blazer is a standalone jacket, often less formal, while a suit includes a matching jacket and trousers, typically for formal occasions.
Difference Between Blazer and Suit
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A blazer is a single piece of attire, often with a less formal design, suitable for both casual and semi-formal events. Suits are two or three-piece sets, including trousers and sometimes a waistcoat, designed for formal settings.
Blazers offer versatility, easily paired with different trousers or jeans. Suits, however, are a cohesive unit, with the jacket and trousers made from the same fabric, ensuring uniformity.
In terms of formality, blazers are more relaxed and can be dressed down. Suits represent a higher level of formality, often worn to business meetings, weddings, and formal gatherings.
Blazers can come in various fabrics and colors, providing a range of styles. Suits are generally more conservative, typically in neutral colors and classic fabrics like wool.
The blazer's history is rooted in casual sportswear and naval attire. Suits have a more formal origin, evolving from court wear and business attire.
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Comparison Chart
Composition
Standalone jacket
Matching jacket and trousers
Formality
Less formal, versatile
More formal, business or ceremonial
Pairing
Can be mixed and matched
Worn as a set, uniform fabric
Style Variations
Diverse fabrics and colors
Typically neutral, classic fabrics
Origin
Casual sportswear, naval
Court wear, formal business attire
Compare with Definitions
Blazer
A jacket with roots in sport and naval attire.
The rowing club's blazer had distinct stripes.
Suit
Jacket and trousers made from the same material.
His suit was made of fine Italian wool.
Blazer
Available in different fabrics and colors.
His velvet blazer was a hit at the party.
Suit
Typically in neutral colors and classic designs.
The suit was a timeless grey with subtle pinstripes.
Blazer
Suitable for both casual and semi-formal events.
A blazer is perfect for a business casual setting.
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
Blazer
A versatile jacket for various occasions.
He wore a navy blazer to the brunch.
Suit
Any of the sets into which a pack of playing cards is divided (in conventional packs comprising spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs).
Blazer
A jacket not requiring matching trousers.
She paired her blazer with jeans for the casual meeting.
Suit
A lawsuit.
Blazer
A blazer is a type of jacket resembling a suit jacket, but cut more casually. A blazer is generally distinguished from a sport coat as a more formal garment and tailored from solid colour fabrics.
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
Blazer
A coloured jacket worn by schoolchildren or sports players as part of a uniform.
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
Blazer
A lightweight sports coat having pockets and notched lapels.
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?
Blazer
A semi-formal jacket.
Suit
Enhance the features, figure, or character of (someone)
The dress didn't suit her
Blazer
A person or thing that blazes (marks or cuts a route).
Suit
Put on clothes, especially for a particular activity
I suited up and entered the water
Blazer
Anything that blazes or glows, as with heat or flame.
Suit
A set of matching outer garments, especially one consisting of a coat with trousers or a skirt, often worn on formal occasions.
Blazer
The dish used when cooking directly over the flame of a chafing-dish lamp, or the coals of a brazier.
Suit
(Slang)A person, especially an executive, who wears one of these garments at work.
Blazer
One who smokes cannabis; a stoner.
Suit
An outfit worn for a special activity
A diving suit.
A running suit.
Blazer
(archaic) One who spreads news, or blazes matters abroad.
Suit
A group of things used together; a set or collection
A suit of sails.
A suit of tools.
Blazer
An older member of a sporting club, often with old-fashioned or conservative views.
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.
Blazer
A con or swindle.
Suit
Attendance required of a vassal at his feudal lord's court or manor.
Blazer
One who spreads reports or blazes matters abroad.
Suit
(Law)A lawsuit.
Blazer
Anything that blazes or glows, as with heat or flame.
Suit
The act or an instance of courting a woman; courtship
She was inclined to accept his suit.
Blazer
A light jacket, usually of wool or silk and of a bright color, for wear at tennis, cricket, or other sport.
Suit
To meet the requirements of; fit
This candidate does not suit our qualifications.
Blazer
The dish used when cooking directly over the flame of a chafing-dish lamp, or the coals of a brasier.
Suit
To make appropriate or suitable; adapt
Builders who suit the house to the owner's specifications.
Blazer
Lightweight single-breasted jacket; often striped in the colors of a club or school
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
To be in accord; agree or match.
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
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
(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
(transitive) To be appropriate or apt for.
The nickname "Bullet" suits her, since she is a fast runner.
Suit
To dress; to clothe.
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.
Suit
(intransitive) To agree; to be fitted; to correspond (usually followed by to, archaically also followed by with)
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
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.
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.
Suit
Regular order; succession.
Every five and thirty years the same kind and suit of weather comes again.
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
To please; to make content; as, he is well suited with his place; to suit one's taste.
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.
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
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
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?
Suit
A businessman dressed in a business suit;
All the suits care about is the bottom line
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
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
Be agreeable or acceptable;
This time suits me
Suit
Accord or comport with;
This kind of behavior does not suit a young woman!
Suit
Enhance the appearance of;
Mourning becomes Electra
This behavior doesn't suit you!
Suit
A matching jacket and trousers for formal occasions.
He chose a classic suit for the interview.
Suit
Standard attire for professional environments.
The boardroom was filled with executives in suits.
Suit
Worn for weddings, formal events, and ceremonies.
He wore his best suit to the wedding.
Common Curiosities
Do blazers have metal buttons?
Some do, especially those with naval origins.
Can a blazer be part of a suit?
No, a blazer is a standalone piece, while suits have matching jackets and trousers.
Are suits only for business?
Mostly, but they're also worn for formal events and ceremonies.
Is a tie necessary with a suit?
Typically, yes, especially in formal settings.
Is a suit always formal?
Generally, yes, suits are considered formal attire.
Are blazers suitable for summer?
Yes, especially those made from light fabrics like linen.
Can a suit jacket be worn as a blazer?
Not ideally, as they are designed to be worn with matching trousers.
Do suits come in different cuts?
Yes, including classic, slim, and modern fits.
Are there casual suits?
Yes, some suits are designed for less formal occasions.
Can blazers be worn with jeans?
Yes, blazers can be paired with jeans for a casual look.
Can women wear suits?
Absolutely, suits are popular in women's fashion as well.
Can blazers have patterns?
Yes, blazers come in various patterns and colors.
Is a blazer appropriate for an interview?
It can be, depending on the industry and company culture.
Is a pocket square necessary with a blazer?
It's optional but can add a stylish touch.
Are suits season-specific?
Some are, with fabrics suitable for winter or summer.
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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.
