suspect definition - Dictionary

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suspect

sus·pect [ sə spékt ]

verb (past and past participle sus·pect·ed, present participle sus·pect·ing, 3rd person present singular sus·pects)

Definition:

1. transitive verb believe somebody is guilty: to believe that somebody may have committed a crime or wrongdoing without having any proof

How can they suspect him of murder?

2. transitive verb doubt something: to doubt the truth or validity of something

We suspect her reasons for wanting to be friends with us.

3. transitive verb believe something to be so: to think that something is probable or likely

I rather suspect that we haven't heard the last of this business.

4. transitive and intransitive verb have suspicions: to be suspicious, or be suspicious about something

noun (plural sus·pects)

Definition:

somebody who might be guilty: somebody who is suspected of a wrongdoing

adjective

Definition:

1. suspicious: thought or likely to be false or untrustworthy

All his claims about the wealth of his family are rather suspect.

2. likely to contain something illegal: looking likely to contain something dangerous or illegal

inspected the suspect luggage

[14th century. < Latin suspect-, past participle of suspicere "look up at" < specere "look at"]

the usual suspects people, businesses, or organizations frequently mentioned in the context of a particular activity (informal)

Word Usage


	suspect or suspicious? These two adjectives have overlapping meanings and are sometimes confused. Suspicious, the more frequent and versatile of the two, may describe a person who suspects or somebody or something that causes suspicion: Her behavior made us suspicious. There were a couple of suspicious characters standing outside the bank. Her behavior was suspicious.Suspect is used chiefly of things that cause doubt, suspicion, or distrust because they seem likely to be false, illegal, or dangerous: His claims sounded suspect. The police confiscated a suspect package. The remains of a suspect tuna sandwich were sent away for analysis.