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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
Detectives are currently questioning a person of interest.
—Sylvan Lebrun, Chicago Tribune, 5 Oct. 2024
Police interviewed a person of interest, but there are currently no suspects in custody, according to NBC 6.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 5 Oct. 2024
Authorities identified an initial person of interest in 1995 as Billy Jack Lincks, who drove a red truck.
—Maria Sole Campinoti, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024
In 2018, Marks was identified as a person of interest in a wanton endangerment investigation after a woman reported to police that another driver cut her off and then cocked and pointed a handgun at her during a confrontation at a traffic light.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for person of interest
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'person of interest.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1937, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of person of interest was
in 1937
Dictionary Entries Near person of interest
Cite this Entry
“Person of interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/person%20of%20interest. Accessed 25 Oct. 2024.
Legal Definition
person of interest
: a person who is believed to be possibly involved in a crime but has not been charged or arrested
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