suspect

1 of 3

adjective

sus·​pect ˈsə-ˌspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
sə-ˈspekt
1
: regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion : suspected
investigates suspect employees
2
: doubtful, questionable
whose skills are suspectPeter Vecsey

suspect

2 of 3

noun

sus·​pect ˈsə-ˌspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
: one that is suspected
especially : a person suspected of a crime

suspect

3 of 3

verb

sus·​pect sə-ˈspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
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

Example Sentences

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Police have released photos of a homicide suspect’s car that was involved in the first of three separate Atlanta shootings Sunday that left two men dead and a 15-year-old boy injured. Rosana Hughes, ajc, 28 Feb. 2023 The results can be life-changing: a victim’s inability to make clear what has happened to them, a suspect’s difficulty in explaining their side of the story. Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 23 Feb. 2023 The results can be life-changing: a victim’s inability to make clear what has happened to them, a suspect’s difficulty in explaining their side of the story. Melissa Sanchez And Maryam Jameel, Journal Sentinel, 23 Feb. 2023 The bodycam video shows an officer driving up to Moses, arresting him with help from another officer and getting what looks like a gun out of the suspect's pocket. CBS News, 23 Feb. 2023 Police released images on Tuesday of the suspect's car, described as a tan or white Mini Cooper. Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 22 Feb. 2023 Police said the suspect’s mom did not know what was going on in her basement. Bradford Betz, Fox News, 21 Feb. 2023 Police found Gruchala matched the suspect's description after reviewing a recent list of people who in the past six months had their homes foreclosed by the business and had made veiled threats, Bolin said. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 21 Feb. 2023 Update: Revised at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 to show the correct spelling of the suspect's name. Dallas News, 20 Feb. 2023
Verb
According to the post, investigators do not suspect foul play at this time. Kyani Reid, NBC News, 9 Mar. 2023 In recent years, scientists have identified yet another threat to the species’ survival — a deficiency of thiamine is harming Chinook populations, and researchers suspect salmon may be feeding too heavily on numerous anchovies in the Pacific Ocean. Ian Jamesstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2023 In a Fight Club turn of events, You fans suspect Joe Goldberg found his very own Tyler Durden. Jacqueline Saguin, Good Housekeeping, 26 Feb. 2023 Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones. Ellen Knickmeyer, Chron, 18 Feb. 2023 Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones. Ellen Knickmeyer, al, 18 Feb. 2023 Biden said officials suspect the three subsequent balloons were ordinary ones. Ellen Knickmeyer, Anchorage Daily News, 18 Feb. 2023 Investigators do not suspect that drugs or alcohol contributed to the crash, the site also said. Deirdre Reilly, Fox News, 15 Dec. 2022 Polhamus said Friday that some opponents suspect the town wants to create a highway through that part of town. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 12 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'suspect.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of suspect was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near suspect

Cite this Entry

“Suspect.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspect. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

suspect

1 of 3 adjective
sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
sə-ˈspekt
: regarded with suspicion

suspect

2 of 3 noun
sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
: one that is suspected
especially : a person suspected of a crime

suspect

3 of 3 verb
sus·​pect sə-ˈspekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
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
: regarded or deserving to be regarded with suspicion or heightened scrutiny

suspect

2 of 3 noun
sus·​pect ˈsəs-ˌpekt How to pronounce suspect (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce suspect (audio)
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

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