someone who is under suspicion
"The police questioned every suspect at the crime scene before releasing them without charges."
A person who is suspected of something, in particular of committing a crime.
"The police arrested the suspect after finding fingerprints at the burglary scene."
In plain English: A suspect is someone who police think might have committed a crime but haven't proven guilty yet.
"The police identified him as their main suspect in the robbery."
hold in suspicion; believe to be guilty
"The U.S. suspected Bin Laden as the mastermind behind the terrorist attacks"
To imagine or suppose (something) to be true, or to exist, without proof.
"The detective suspected that someone had tampered with the evidence before the case was closed."
In plain English: To suspect something means to think it might be true even though you don't have proof yet.
"The police suspect that the thief hid the money in an old suitcase."
Usage: Use the verb suspect when you believe something is likely true based on indirect evidence rather than direct knowledge. This differs from guessing because it implies a reasoned assumption that an event has occurred or exists despite lacking concrete proof.
not as expected
"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"
Viewed with suspicion; suspected.
"The new employee was viewed with suspicion by her colleagues because of his vague answers during the interview."
In plain English: Suspect means you think something is wrong but don't have proof yet.
"The police had no reason to suspect his story was false."
The word "suspect" comes from the Old French suspect, which was borrowed from the Latin verb meaning to watch or look at from below. Originally used in a legal context where someone had been viewed with suspicion by authorities, it entered English to describe anyone who is considered likely to be guilty of something wrong.