suspect

1 of 3

adjective

sus·​pect ˈsə-ˌspekt  sə-ˈspekt 

1

: regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion : suspected

investigates suspect employees

2

: doubtful, questionable

whose skills are suspect

—Peter Vecsey

suspect

2 of 3

noun

sus·​pect ˈsə-ˌspekt 

: one that is suspected

especially : a person suspected of a crime

suspect

3 of 3

verb

sus·​pect sə-ˈspekt 

suspected; suspecting; suspects

transitive verb

1

: to imagine (one) to be guilty or culpable on slight evidence or without proof

suspect him of giving false information

2

: to have doubts of : distrust

suspects her motives

3

: to imagine to exist or be true, likely, or probable

I suspect he's right

intransitive verb

: to imagine something to be true or likely

Synonyms

Adjective

• questionable
• suspicious
• dubious
• disputable
• doubtful
• problematic
• problematical
• debatable

Verb

• guess
• assume
• suppose
• think
• presume

Examples of suspect in a Sentence

Adjective

The room had a suspect odor.

since she was carrying no cash or credit cards, her claim to the store's detectives that she had intended to pay for the items was suspect

Noun

One suspect has been arrested.

She is a possible suspect in connection with the kidnapping.

The prime suspect for the food poisoning is the potato salad.

Verb

He's suspected in four burglaries.

The police do not suspect murder in this case.

The fire chief suspects arson.

I suspect it will rain.

Call the doctor immediately if you suspect you've been infected.

The latest research confirms what scientists have long suspected.

I suspect she's not who she says she is.

“We haven't done our homework.” “I suspected as much.”

I suspected his motives in giving me the money.

I have reason to suspect her sincerity when she makes promises like that.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Editor's note: A previous version of this story's headline indicated that the suspect would walk free after the charges were dropped. —Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2025

When the suspect did not respond, deputies shot him with their duty weapons, the news release stated. —Michelle Cruz, AZCentral.com, 14 July 2025

Verb

Roley, who was found dead near the scene after appearing to have shot himself, is suspected of lighting the brush with a flint fire starter before ambushing the firefighting crew in a mountainous area of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. —David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 July 2025

An officer suspected the woman was under the influence of drugs after discovering her behind a business at about 4:10 p.m. Saturday, June 28, the Redding Police Department said in a news release. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin suspectus, from past participle of suspicere

Verb

Middle English, from Latin suspectare, frequentative of suspicere to look up at, regard with awe, suspect, from sub-, sus- up, secretly + specere to look at — more at sub-, spy

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1591, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for suspect

• affect
• aspect
• bedecked
• bisect
• collect
• connect
• correct
• deflect
• detect
• direct
• dissect
• effect

Kids Definition

suspect

1 of 3 adjective

sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt 

sə-ˈspekt

: regarded with suspicion

suspect

2 of 3 noun

sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt 

: one that is suspected

especially : a person suspected of a crime

suspect

3 of 3 verb

sus·​pect sə-ˈspekt 

1

: to have doubts about

2

: to believe to be guilty without proof

suspect someone of theft

3

: to suppose to be true or likely

I suspect that it will rain

Legal Definition

suspect

1 of 3 adjective

sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt, sə-ˈspekt 

: regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion or heightened scrutiny

suspect

2 of 3 noun

sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt 

: a person suspected of a crime

also : a person apprehended for but not yet charged with an offense

suspect

3 of 3 transitive verb

sus·​pect sə-ˈspekt 

1

: to imagine (one) to be guilty on slight evidence or without proof

2

: to imagine to exist or be probable

they had reasonable cause to suspect abuse

Etymology

Adjective

Latin suspectus, from past participle of suspicere to look up at, regard with awe, suspect, from sub-, sus- up, secretly + specere to look at