Dictionary

suspect en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈsʌspɛkt/ (Received-Pronunciation, US)
• sŭsʹpĕkt
• (US) audio
• (US) audio
• /ˈsʊspɛkt/ (Northern-England)
• /ˈsɐspekt/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. Viewed with suspicion; suspected.
   • In his first book since the 2008 essay collection Natural Acts: A Sidelong View of Science and Nature, David Quammen looks at the natural world from yet another angle: the search for the next human pandemic, what epidemiologists call “the next big one.” His quest leads him around the world to study a variety of suspect zoonoses—animal-hosted pathogens that infect humans. 2013 January 14, Katie L. Burke, “Ecological Dependency”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 1, archived from the original on 09 Feb 2017, page 64:
   • What appears suspect about the Beeching Report is how quickly it was railroaded through, with the answers manufactured before the questions were asked. 2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 52:
   • What I can do or offer is suspect. 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 2:
   • Facing a backlash over the use of the term “cosmopolitan,” [Josh] Hawley later defended himself against accusations of antisemitism on Twitter as “an ardent advocate of the state of Israel and the Jewish people.” But this conflation of the state of Israel and the Jewish people is the entire point. To today’s far right, Israel is a firm ally against Islam, while “cosmopolitans,” many of whom just happen to be Jewish, are suspect. 2019 July 24, David Austin Walsh, “Flirting With Fascism”, in Jewish Currents:
2. (nonstandard) Viewing with suspicion; suspecting.
   • Now I’m suspect of other advice that I read in your pages. 2004, Will Nickell, letter to the editor of Field & Stream, Volume CIX Number 8 (December 2004–January 2005), page 18

Forms

Deriveds

unsuspect · suspectly · nonsuspect · suspectness

Relateds

suspicion · suspicious

Synonyms

suspicious (viewed with suspicion) · fishy (viewed with suspicion) · doubtful (viewed with suspicion) · dodgy (viewed with suspicion) · dubious (viewed with suspicion) · sus (viewed with suspicion)

Translations (23)

sv misstänkt (viewed with suspicion) · gl sospeitoso (viewed with suspicion) · ru подозри́тельный (viewed with suspicion) · ca sospitós (viewed with suspicion) · mk сомнителен (viewed with suspicion) · da mistænkelig (viewed with suspicion) · sv suspekt (viewed with suspicion) · uk підозрі́лий (viewed with suspicion) · el ύποπτος (viewed with suspicion) · pl podejrzany (viewed with suspicion) · es suspecto (viewed with suspicion) · de verdächtig (viewed with suspicion) · fi epäilyksenalainen (viewed with suspicion) · fr suspect (viewed with suspicion) · cs podezřelý (viewed with suspicion) · ro suspect (viewed with suspicion) · bg подозрителен (viewed with suspicion) · ka საეჭვო (viewed with suspicion) · pt suspeito (viewed with suspicion) · ga amhrasach (viewed with suspicion) · es sospechoso (viewed with suspicion) · fi epäilyttävä (viewed with suspicion) · hu gyanús (viewed with suspicion)

suspect en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈsʌspɛkt/ (Received-Pronunciation, US)
• sŭsʹpĕkt
• (US) audio
• (US) audio
• /ˈsʊspɛkt/ (Northern-England)
• /ˈsɐspekt/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. A person who is suspected of something, in particular of committing a crime.
   • 1942, Casablanca, written by Julius J. Epstein, Philip G. Epstein and Howard Koch Round up the usual suspects.

Forms

Deriveds

suspectless · multisuspect · suspook · usual suspects · prime suspect

Translations (50)

sw mshukiwa (person suspected of something) · ko 용의자 (person suspected of something) · mk осомничен (person suspected of something) · uk підо́зрюваний (person suspected of something) · be падазрава́ная (person suspected of something) · ro bănuit (person suspected of something) · io suspektito (person suspected of something) · pt suspeito (person suspected of something) · ja 被疑者 (person suspected of something) · te అనుమానితుడు (person suspected of something) · eo suspektato (person suspected of something) · mk осомничена (person suspected of something) · he חָשׁוּד m חֲשׁוּדָה (person suspected of something) · ka ეჭვმიტანილი (person suspected of something) · cmn 嫌疑犯 (person suspected of something) · hu gyanúsított (person suspected of something) · ar مُشْتَبَه بِهِ (person suspected of something) · da mistænkt (person suspected of something) · fa مَظنون (person suspected of something) · vi nghi phạm (person suspected of something) · sv misstänkt (person suspected of something) · pl podejrzany (person suspected of something) · pt suspeita (person suspected of something) · km ពិរុទ្ធជន (person suspected of something) · th ผู้ต้องสงสัย (person suspected of something) · cmn 嫌疑人 (person suspected of something) · fr suspect (person suspected of something) · cs podezřelý (person suspected of something) · el ύποπτη (person suspected of something) · be падазрава́ны (person suspected of something) · pl podejrzana (person suspected of something) · fi epäilty (person suspected of something) · oc suspècte (person suspected of something) · de Verdächtiger (person suspected of something) · ro suspect (person suspected of something) · te అనుమానితురాలు (person suspected of something) · af verdagte (person suspected of something) · hi संदिग्ध (person suspected of something) · ga amhrastach (person suspected of something) · uk підо́зрювана (person suspected of something) · ru подозрева́емая (person suspected of something) · nl verdachte (person suspected of something) · ar مَشْبُوه (person suspected of something) · el ύποπτος (person suspected of something) · gl sospeitoso (person suspected of something) · bg заподозря́н (person suspected of something) · ru подозрева́емый (person suspected of something) · de Verdächtige (person suspected of something) · hy կասկածյալ (person suspected of something) · es sospechoso (person suspected of something)

suspect en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /səˈspɛkt/ (Received-Pronunciation, US)
• (US) audio
• (Southern-England) audio
• sə.spĕktʹ
• /səˈspekt/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• (US) audio

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (transitive) To imagine or suppose (something) to be true, or to exist, without proof.
   • Mr. Campion appeared suitably impressed and she warmed to him. He was very easy to talk to with those long clown lines in his pale face, a natural goon, born rather too early she suspected. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 5, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
   • WikiLeaks did not cause these uprisings but it certainly informed them. The dispatches revealed details of corruption and kleptocracy that many Tunisians suspected, but could not prove, and would cite as they took to the streets. 2013 June 7, Gary Younge, “Hypocrisy lies at heart of Manning prosecution”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 188, number 26, page 18:
   • to suspect the presence of disease
   • From her hand I could suspect no ill. 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
2. (transitive) To distrust or have doubts about (something or someone).
   • An inhabitant of Gubio, in the duchy of Urbino, in Italy, suspecting the fidelity of his wife, he, in a fit of jealousy, in order to find out whether his suspicion was true, did what the ecclesiastick history informs us Origen did from devotion. 1785, James Ridgway, A Dictionary of Literary Conversation:
   • to suspect the truth of a story
3. (transitive) To believe (someone) to be guilty.
   • I suspect him of being the thief.
4. (intransitive) To have suspicion.
5. (obsolete, transitive) To look up to; to respect.

Forms

Deriveds

suspecting · suspectful · suspector · suspectable · missuspect · suspective · suspected

Synonyms

suppose (imagine or suppose to be true) · doubt (distrust, have doubts about) · sniff (imagine or suppose to be true) · imagine (imagine or suppose to be true) · think (imagine or suppose to be true) · distrust (distrust, have doubts about) · accuse (believe to be guilty) · point the finger at (believe to be guilty)

Translations (150)

ru заподо́зрить (distrust, have doubts about) · fr soupçonner (have suspicion) · gl sospeitar (believe to be guilty) · es sospechar (distrust, have doubts about) · el υποπτεύομαι (distrust, have doubts about) · la suspiciō (distrust, have doubts about) · fr soupçonner (believe to be guilty) · kea diskunfia (have suspicion) · ru заподо́зрить (have suspicion) · uk запідо́зрити (have suspicion) · da suspekt (believe to be guilty) · ru подозрева́ть (distrust, have doubts about) · mk се сомнева (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · gl sospeitar (distrust, have doubts about) · hi संदिग्ध (believe to be guilty) · nl wantrouwen (distrust, have doubts about) · hi संदेह (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · bg подози́рам (have suspicion) · el υποπτεύομαι (believe to be guilty) · cmn 揣測 /揣测 (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · ru подозрева́ть (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · grc ὑποτοπέω (distrust, have doubts about) · hu gyanakodik (have suspicion) · de misstrauen (distrust, have doubts about) · be западо́зрыць (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · da mistænke (believe to be guilty) · ca sospitar (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · eo suspekti (distrust, have doubts about) · sl sumiti (believe to be guilty) · ga amhras a bheith agat ar (distrust, have doubts about) · cmn 懷疑 /怀疑 (believe to be guilty) · cmn 懷疑 /怀疑 (have suspicion) · cmn 懷疑 /怀疑 (distrust, have doubts about) · es sospechar (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · fi epäillä (believe to be guilty) · gl osmar (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · it sospettare (have suspicion) · es sospechar (have suspicion) · cs podezřívat (believe to be guilty) · nb ane (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · mk се сомнева (have suspicion) · grc ὑπονοέω (distrust, have doubts about) · uk підо́зрювати (have suspicion) · hu gyanít (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · ru заподо́зрить (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · pt suspeitar (believe to be guilty) · pl podejrzewać (believe to be guilty) · om shakkuu (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · te అనుమానించు (believe to be guilty) · be западо́зрыць (believe to be guilty) · kea deskonfiá (have suspicion) · fr suspecter (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · da mistro (distrust, have doubts about) · cmn 嫌疑 (believe to be guilty) · ru полага́ть (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · ar ...اِشْتَبَهَ بِ (believe to be guilty) · jv nyubriyani (distrust, have doubts about) · uk підо́зрювати (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · nl iets verdacht vinden (have suspicion) · ky кушуу (have suspicion) · ca sospitar (distrust, have doubts about) · sv misstänka (have suspicion) · grc ὑποτοπέω (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · fi epäillä (distrust, have doubts about) · be падазрава́ць (distrust, have doubts about) · it sospettare (believe to be guilty) · de verdächtigen (believe to be guilty) · de vermuten (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · ca sospitar (believe to be guilty) · sv misstänka (believe to be guilty) · it sospettare (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · hu kétségei vannak … felől (distrust, have doubts about) · ro bănui (believe to be guilty) · ang rǣswan (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · hu kétell (distrust, have doubts about) · ro suspecta (believe to be guilty) · grc ὑποπτεύω (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · bg подози́рам (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · pt suspeitar (distrust, have doubts about) · ga caith amhras ar (believe to be guilty) · hu képzel (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · ga bí san amhras (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · hu gyanúsít (believe to be guilty) · ru подозрева́ть (believe to be guilty) · ru подозрева́ть (have suspicion) · fi epäillä (have suspicion) · ka დამნაშავედ მიიჩნევს (believe to be guilty) · hi संदेह (have suspicion) · da mistænke (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · de einen Verdacht haben (have suspicion) · ru заподо́зрить (believe to be guilty) · nb ane (have suspicion) · ka ეჭვს მიიტანს (believe to be guilty) · hu sejt (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · bg подозра́ (believe to be guilty) · mk се сомнева (distrust, have doubts about) · sv tro (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · uk підо́зрювати (believe to be guilty) · el υποπτεύομαι (have suspicion) · be падазрава́ць (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · bg подозра́ (distrust, have doubts about) · mk претпоставува (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · jv cubriya (distrust, have doubts about) · grc ὑπονοέω (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · es barruntar (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · sv vara tveksam till (distrust, have doubts about) · yi חושד זײַן (distrust, have doubts about) · sv anta (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · bg подозра́ (have suspicion) · nn mistenkja (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · be западо́зрыць (distrust, have doubts about) · gl sospeitar (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · be падазрава́ць (believe to be guilty) · ga amhras a bheith agat (have suspicion) · hu kételkedik (distrust, have doubts about) · nl verdenken (believe to be guilty) · cmn 猜疑 (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · nl betwijfelen (distrust, have doubts about) · uk запідо́зрити (believe to be guilty) · bg подози́рам (believe to be guilty) · uk підо́зрювати (distrust, have doubts about) · uk запідо́зрити (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · sv förmoda (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · hu kételyei vannak … felől (distrust, have doubts about) · fi epäillä (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · ja 疑う (believe to be guilty) · sv ana (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · da ha en mistanke (have suspicion) · ko 의심하다 (believe to be guilty) · fr soupçonner (distrust, have doubts about) · nl vermoeden (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · nl twijfelen aan (distrust, have doubts about) · tr varsaymak (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · gl sospeitar (have suspicion) · bg подозра́ (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · es sospechar (believe to be guilty) · mk се сомнева (believe to be guilty) · uk запідо́зрити (distrust, have doubts about) · cs podezírat (believe to be guilty) · sv misstänka (distrust, have doubts about) · hu gyanakszik (have suspicion) · ota شبههلنمك (have suspicion) · pt suspeitar (imagine or suppose to be true, without proof) · pt suspeitar (have suspicion) · cmn 嫌疑 (distrust, have doubts about) · cmn 嫌疑 (have suspicion) · hi संदेह (distrust, have doubts about) · bg подози́рам (distrust, have doubts about) · kea deskonfiá (distrust, have doubts about) · kea diskunfia (distrust, have doubts about)