suspect

To suspect someone is to think they may have done something wrong, or to feel that something bad may have happened. It sits between knowing and not knowing: more than a guess, but less than proof. You might suspect your little brother ate the last cookie even if you did not see him do it, or suspect that something strange happened when a valuable item goes missing.

In detective stories, "the suspect" is the person the police think may have committed the crime. But you can also suspect that something is not quite right, like suspecting that a delicious-looking cake has far too much sugar. The word usually carries a sense of doubt and often suggests possible wrongdoing. Think of Sherlock Holmes slowly building his suspicions until he has enough evidence to prove his theory.

The word "suspect" has several related meanings, all built around doubt, distrust, or the sense that something may be wrong. Most often, it means to think that someone probably did something wrong, especially a crime. For example, "Police suspect him of stealing the artwork" means they have reason to think he was involved.

However, "suspect" is not limited to crime. You can suspect that a friend is keeping a secret or suspect that a deal is too good to be true. In these cases, it means you feel that something is not as it seems, even if you do not have full proof.

As a noun, "the suspect" refers to the person being investigated for a crime. This use often appears in legal and news writing: "The prime suspect remains at large." You will also hear related phrases like "under suspicion" or "raise suspicions."

Suspect can also be an adjective describing something that seems questionable or unreliable. For example, you might say, "The quality of the materials is suspect," meaning they seem poor or possibly flawed.

So whether it is a feeling about someone's actions, a sense that something is not right, or a formal term in a crime case, suspect always points to uncertainty and the possibility of wrongdoing. It is a word strongly linked with doubt, investigation, and caution.