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.
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 Law enforcement officials – both local and federal – still have no main suspect, nor any particular person of interest. John Miller, CNN Money, 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Person of interest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/person%20of%20interest. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Legal Definition

person of interest

: a person who is believed to be possibly involved in a crime but has not been charged or arrested
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster