person of interest

noun phrase

: a person who is believed to be possibly involved in a crime but has not been charged or arrested

Examples of person of interest in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Morris County investigators have yet to name a suspect or person of interest in the case. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026 Cops took a person of interest into custody. — Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 28 June 2026 Though authorities received numerous tips over the years and investigated several persons of interest, no suspect was ever named in Huisentruit's case, and she was never found. — Yasmeen Hamadeh, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026 Vermont prosecutors later disclosed that the person who supplied the guns Youngblut and Bauckholt used was a person of interest in a double murder in Pennsylvania — a reference to the Zajkos’ killing. — Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for person of interest

Word History

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of person of interest was in 1937

Rhymes for person of interest

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Browse Nearby Words

person of inherence
person of interest
person-to-person
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Cite this Entry

“Person of interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/person%20of%20interest. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

person of interest

: a person who is believed to be possibly involved in a crime but has not been charged or arrested
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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