Standard Lemma guide

suspect

adj · noun · verb · 14 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • sŭsʹpĕkt
  • Received-Pronunciation, US: /ˈsʌspɛkt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian, New-Zealand: /ˈsɐspekt/
  • Northern-England: /ˈsʊspɛkt/
  • sə.spĕktʹ
  • Received-Pronunciation, US: /səˈspɛkt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian, New-Zealand: /səˈspekt/
  • rhymes with -ɛkt
  • CMU ARPABET: S AH0 S P EH1 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: S AH1 S P EH2 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Viewed with suspicion; suspected.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Viewing with suspicion; suspecting.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: nonstandard

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A person who is suspected of something, in particular of committing a crime.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1942, Casablanca, written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch Round up the usual suspects.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To imagine or suppose (something) to be true, or to exist, without proof.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to suspect the presence of disease

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To distrust or have doubts about (something or someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to suspect the truth of a story

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To believe (someone) to be guilty.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • I suspect him of being the thief.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To have suspicion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To look up to; to respect.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

adjective satellite

Meaning 9

not as expected

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • there was something fishy about the accident
  • up to some funny business
  • some definitely queer goings-on
  • a shady deal
  • her motives were suspect
  • suspicious behavior

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fishy, funny, shady, suspicious

Antonyms: none provided

10

noun

Meaning 10

a person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: defendant

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: litigant, litigator

Narrower terms: accused, codefendant, co-defendant

11

noun

Meaning 11

someone who is under suspicion

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul

Narrower terms: murder suspect, rape suspect, robbery suspect

12

verb

Meaning 12

regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: distrust, mistrust

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: disbelieve, discredit

Narrower terms: doubt

13

verb

Meaning 13

imagine to be the case or true or probable

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I suspect he is a fugitive
  • I surmised that the butler did it

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: surmise

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: guess, venture, pretend, hazard

14

verb

Meaning 14

hold in suspicion; believe to be guilty

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The U.S. suspected Bin Laden as the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: think, opine, suppose, imagine, reckon, guess

History

Etymology

From Old French suspect, from Latin suspectus, perfect passive participle of suspiciō (“mistrust, suspect”), from sub (“under”), + speciō (“watch, look at”).

Across languages

Translations

223 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: подозрителен (podozritelen) — viewed with suspicion
  • Catalan: sospitós — viewed with suspicion
  • Czech: podezřelý — viewed with suspicion
  • Danish: mistænkelig — viewed with suspicion
  • Finnish: epäilyttävä — viewed with suspicion
  • Finnish: epäilyksenalainen — viewed with suspicion
  • French: suspect — viewed with suspicion
  • Galician: sospeitoso — viewed with suspicion
  • Georgian: საეჭვო (saeč̣vo) — viewed with suspicion
  • German: verdächtig — viewed with suspicion
  • Greek: ύποπτος (ýpoptos) — viewed with suspicion
  • Hungarian: gyanús — viewed with suspicion
  • Irish: amhrasach — viewed with suspicion
  • Macedonian: сомнителен (somnitelen) — viewed with suspicion
  • Polish: podejrzany — viewed with suspicion
  • Portuguese: suspeito — viewed with suspicion
  • Romanian: suspect — viewed with suspicion
  • Russian: подозри́тельный (podozrítelʹnyj) — viewed with suspicion
  • Spanish: suspecto — viewed with suspicion
  • Spanish: sospechoso — viewed with suspicion
  • Swedish: misstänkt — viewed with suspicion
  • Swedish: suspekt — viewed with suspicion
  • Ukrainian: підозрі́лий (pidozrílyj) — viewed with suspicion
  • Afrikaans: verdagte — person suspected of something
  • Arabic: مُشْتَبَه بِهِ (muštabah bihi) — person suspected of something
  • Arabic: مَشْبُوه (mašbūh) — person suspected of something
  • Armenian: կասկածյալ (kaskacyal) — person suspected of something
  • Belarusian: падазрава́ны (padazravány) — person suspected of something
  • Belarusian: падазрава́ная (padazravánaja) — person suspected of something
  • Bulgarian: заподозря́н (zapodozrján) — person suspected of something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 嫌疑犯 (xiányífàn) — person suspected of something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 嫌疑人 (xiányírén) — person suspected of something
  • Czech: podezřelý — person suspected of something
  • Danish: mistænkt — person suspected of something
  • Dutch: verdachte — person suspected of something
  • Esperanto: suspektato — person suspected of something
  • Finnish: epäilty — person suspected of something
  • French: suspect — person suspected of something
  • Galician: sospeitoso — person suspected of something
  • Georgian: ეჭვმიტანილი (eč̣vmiṭanili) — person suspected of something
  • German: Verdächtiger — person suspected of something
  • German: Verdächtige — person suspected of something
  • Greek: ύποπτος (ýpoptos) — person suspected of something
  • Greek: ύποπτη (ýpopti) — person suspected of something
  • Hebrew: חָשׁוּד m חֲשׁוּדָה (khashúd) — person suspected of something
  • Hindi: संदिग्ध (sandigdh) — person suspected of something
  • Hungarian: gyanúsított — person suspected of something
  • Ido: suspektito — person suspected of something
  • Irish: amhrastach — person suspected of something
  • Japanese: 被疑者 (higisha) — person suspected of something
  • Khmer: ពិរុទ្ធជន (pirutthĕəʼcŭən) — person suspected of something
  • Korean: 용의자 (yong'uija) — person suspected of something
  • Macedonian: осомничен (osomničen) — person suspected of something
  • Macedonian: осомничена (osomničena) — person suspected of something
  • Occitan: suspècte — person suspected of something
  • Persian: مَظنون (maznun) — person suspected of something
  • Polish: podejrzany — person suspected of something
  • Polish: podejrzana — person suspected of something
  • Portuguese: suspeito — person suspected of something
  • Portuguese: suspeita — person suspected of something
  • Romanian: bănuit — person suspected of something
  • Romanian: suspect — person suspected of something
  • Russian: подозрева́емый (podozrevájemyj) — person suspected of something
  • Russian: подозрева́емая (podozrevájemaja) — person suspected of something
  • Spanish: sospechoso — person suspected of something
  • Swahili: mshukiwa — person suspected of something
  • Swedish: misstänkt — person suspected of something
  • Telugu: అనుమానితుడు (anumānituḍu) — person suspected of something
  • Telugu: అనుమానితురాలు (anumāniturālu) — person suspected of something
  • Thai: ผู้ต้องสงสัย (pûu-dtɔ̂ng-sǒng-sǎi) — person suspected of something
  • Ukrainian: підо́зрюваний (pidózrjuvanyj) — person suspected of something
  • Ukrainian: підо́зрювана (pidózrjuvana) — person suspected of something
  • Vietnamese: nghi phạm — person suspected of something
  • Belarusian: падазрава́ць (padazravácʹ) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Belarusian: западо́зрыць (zapadózrycʹ) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Bulgarian: подози́рам (podozíram) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Bulgarian: подозра́ (podozrá) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Catalan: sospitar — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Chinese Mandarin: 揣測 /揣测 (chuǎicè) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Chinese Mandarin: 猜疑 (cāiyí) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Danish: mistænke — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Dutch: vermoeden — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Finnish: epäillä — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • French: suspecter — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Galician: sospeitar — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Galician: osmar — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • German: vermuten — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Ancient Greek: ὑπονοέω (huponoéō) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Ancient Greek: ὑποτοπέω (hupotopéō) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Ancient Greek: ὑποπτεύω (hupopteúō) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Hindi: संदेह (sandeh) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Hungarian: gyanít — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Hungarian: sejt — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Hungarian: képzel — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Irish: bí san amhras — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Italian: sospettare — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Macedonian: се сомнева (se somneva) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Macedonian: претпоставува (pretpostavuva) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ane — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Norwegian Nynorsk: mistenkja — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Old English: rǣswan — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Oromo: shakkuu — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Portuguese: suspeitar — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Russian: подозрева́ть (podozrevátʹ) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Russian: заподо́зрить (zapodózritʹ) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Russian: полага́ть (polagátʹ) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Spanish: barruntar — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Spanish: sospechar — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Swedish: förmoda — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Swedish: tro — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Swedish: anta — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Swedish: ana — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Turkish: varsaymak — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Ukrainian: підо́зрювати (pidózrjuvaty) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Ukrainian: запідо́зрити (zapidózryty) — imagine or suppose to be true, without proof
  • Belarusian: падазрава́ць (padazravácʹ) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Belarusian: западо́зрыць (zapadózrycʹ) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Bulgarian: подози́рам (podozíram) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Bulgarian: подозра́ (podozrá) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Catalan: sospitar — distrust, have doubts about
  • Chinese Mandarin: 懷疑 /怀疑 (huáiyí) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Chinese Mandarin: 嫌疑 (xiányí) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Danish: mistro — distrust, have doubts about
  • Dutch: wantrouwen — distrust, have doubts about
  • Dutch: twijfelen aan — distrust, have doubts about
  • Dutch: betwijfelen — distrust, have doubts about
  • Esperanto: suspekti — distrust, have doubts about
  • Finnish: epäillä — distrust, have doubts about
  • French: soupçonner — distrust, have doubts about
  • Galician: sospeitar — distrust, have doubts about
  • German: misstrauen — distrust, have doubts about
  • Greek: υποπτεύομαι (ypoptévomai) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Ancient Greek: ὑπονοέω (huponoéō) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Ancient Greek: ὑποτοπέω (hupotopéō) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Hindi: संदेह (sandeh) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Hungarian: kételkedik — distrust, have doubts about
  • Hungarian: kétell — distrust, have doubts about
  • Hungarian: kételyei vannak ... felől — distrust, have doubts about
  • Hungarian: kétségei vannak ... felől — distrust, have doubts about
  • Irish: amhras a bheith agat ar — distrust, have doubts about
  • Javanese: cubriya — distrust, have doubts about
  • Javanese: nyubriyani — distrust, have doubts about
  • Kabuverdianu: diskunfia — distrust, have doubts about
  • Kabuverdianu: deskonfiá — distrust, have doubts about
  • Latin: suspiciō — distrust, have doubts about
  • Macedonian: се сомнева (se somneva) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Portuguese: suspeitar — distrust, have doubts about
  • Russian: подозрева́ть (podozrevátʹ) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Russian: заподо́зрить (zapodózritʹ) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Spanish: sospechar — distrust, have doubts about
  • Swedish: misstänka — distrust, have doubts about
  • Swedish: vara tveksam till — distrust, have doubts about
  • Ukrainian: підо́зрювати (pidózrjuvaty) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Ukrainian: запідо́зрити (zapidózryty) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Yiddish: חושד זײַן (khoyshed zayn) — distrust, have doubts about
  • Arabic: ...اِشْتَبَهَ بِ (...ištabaha bi) — believe to be guilty
  • Belarusian: падазрава́ць (padazravácʹ) — believe to be guilty
  • Belarusian: западо́зрыць (zapadózrycʹ) — believe to be guilty
  • Bulgarian: подози́рам (podozíram) — believe to be guilty
  • Bulgarian: подозра́ (podozrá) — believe to be guilty
  • Catalan: sospitar — believe to be guilty
  • Chinese Mandarin: 懷疑 /怀疑 (huáiyí) — believe to be guilty
  • Chinese Mandarin: 嫌疑 (xiányí) — believe to be guilty
  • Czech: podezřívat — believe to be guilty
  • Czech: podezírat — believe to be guilty
  • Danish: suspekt — believe to be guilty
  • Danish: mistænke — believe to be guilty
  • Dutch: verdenken — believe to be guilty
  • Finnish: epäillä — believe to be guilty
  • French: soupçonner — believe to be guilty
  • Galician: sospeitar — believe to be guilty
  • Georgian: ეჭვს მიიტანს (eč̣vs miiṭans) — believe to be guilty
  • Georgian: დამნაშავედ მიიჩნევს (damnašaved miičnevs) — believe to be guilty
  • German: verdächtigen — believe to be guilty
  • Greek: υποπτεύομαι (ypoptévomai) — believe to be guilty
  • Hindi: संदिग्ध (sandigdh) — believe to be guilty
  • Hungarian: gyanúsít — believe to be guilty
  • Irish: caith amhras ar — believe to be guilty
  • Italian: sospettare — believe to be guilty
  • Japanese: 疑う (utagau) — believe to be guilty
  • Korean: 의심하다 (uisimhada) — believe to be guilty
  • Macedonian: се сомнева (se somneva) — believe to be guilty
  • Polish: podejrzewać — believe to be guilty
  • Portuguese: suspeitar — believe to be guilty
  • Romanian: bănui — believe to be guilty
  • Romanian: suspecta — believe to be guilty
  • Russian: подозрева́ть (podozrevátʹ) — believe to be guilty
  • Russian: заподо́зрить (zapodózritʹ) — believe to be guilty
  • Slovene: sumiti — believe to be guilty
  • Spanish: sospechar — believe to be guilty
  • Swedish: misstänka — believe to be guilty
  • Telugu: అనుమానించు (anumāniñcu) — believe to be guilty
  • Ukrainian: підо́зрювати (pidózrjuvaty) — believe to be guilty
  • Ukrainian: запідо́зрити (zapidózryty) — believe to be guilty
  • Bulgarian: подози́рам (podozíram) — have suspicion
  • Bulgarian: подозра́ (podozrá) — have suspicion
  • Chinese Mandarin: 懷疑 /怀疑 (huáiyí) — have suspicion
  • Chinese Mandarin: 嫌疑 (xiányí) — have suspicion
  • Danish: ha en mistanke — have suspicion
  • Dutch: iets verdacht vinden — have suspicion
  • Finnish: epäillä — have suspicion
  • French: soupçonner — have suspicion
  • Galician: sospeitar — have suspicion
  • German: einen Verdacht haben — have suspicion
  • Greek: υποπτεύομαι (ypoptévomai) — have suspicion
  • Hindi: संदेह (sandeh) — have suspicion
  • Hungarian: gyanakszik — have suspicion
  • Hungarian: gyanakodik — have suspicion
  • Irish: amhras a bheith agat — have suspicion
  • Italian: sospettare — have suspicion
  • Kabuverdianu: deskonfiá — have suspicion
  • Kabuverdianu: diskunfia — have suspicion
  • Kyrgyz: кушуу (kuşuu) — have suspicion
  • Macedonian: се сомнева (se somneva) — have suspicion
  • Norwegian Bokmål: ane — have suspicion
  • Portuguese: suspeitar — have suspicion
  • Russian: подозрева́ть (podozrevátʹ) — have suspicion
  • Russian: заподо́зрить (zapodózritʹ) — have suspicion
  • Spanish: sospechar — have suspicion
  • Swedish: misstänka — have suspicion
  • Ottoman Turkish: شبههلنمك (şübhelenmek) — have suspicion
  • Ukrainian: підо́зрювати (pidózrjuvaty) — have suspicion
  • Ukrainian: запідо́зрити (zapidózryty) — have suspicion
Real reading context

suspect in complete knowledge articles