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.
Layman confirmed that Lynn Pauley is a person of interest in Robert’s disappearance, but emphasized that investigators are looking at others as well. — Meghan O'Brien, NBC news, 10 Nov. 2026 Before charges were announced, Chicago police released an image of the suspect captured on the surveillance video on Sunday, and said Tuesday morning that detectives are speaking with a person of interest. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026 Investigators developed many leads and persons of interest following her death, but none led them to her killer, Petrosky said. — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026 There are signs that point that the son is a person of interest. — Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 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 14 Nov. 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
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