suspicion

[ suh-spish-uhn ]

noun

1. act of suspecting.
2. the state of mind or feeling of one who suspects:

   Suspicion kept him awake all night long.

   Synonyms: misgiving, mistrust, doubt

3. an instance of suspecting something or someone.
4. state of being suspected:

   under suspicion; above suspicion.

5. imagination of anything to be the case or to be likely; a vague notion of something.
6. a slight trace, hint, or suggestion:

   a suspicion of a smile.

verb (used with object)

1. Nonstandard. to suspect.

suspicion

/ səˈspɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of suspecting; belief without sure proof, esp that something is wrong
2. the feeling of mistrust of a person who suspects
3. the state of being suspected

   to be shielded from suspicion

4. a slight trace
5. above suspicion
   in such a position that no guilt may be thought or implied, esp through having an unblemished reputation
6. on suspicion
   as a suspect
7. under suspicion
   regarded with distrust

Derived Forms

• susˈpicionless, adjective
• susˈpicional, adjective

Other Words From

• presus·picion noun
• self-sus·picion noun
• super·sus·picion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspicion¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin suspīciōn- (stem of suspīciō ), equivalent to suspīc- (variant stem of suspicere “to look from below, suspect” ) + -iōn- -ion; suspect

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspicion¹

C14: from Old French sospeçon, from Latin suspīciō distrust, from suspicere to mistrust; see suspect

Idioms and Phrases

see above suspicion .

Synonym Study

Suspicion, distrust are terms for a feeling that appearances are not reliable. Suspicion is the positive tendency to doubt the trustworthiness of appearances and therefore to believe that one has detected possibilities of something unreliable, unfavorable, menacing, or the like: to feel suspicion about the honesty of a prominent man. Distrust may be a passive want of trust, faith, or reliance in a person or thing: to feel distrust of one's own ability.

Example Sentences

During the early years of the 42-year-old Gaetz’s career in politics, he was pulled over on suspicion of DUI while driving his dad’s BMW out of a nightclub.

From Slate

The footage drew suspicion from investigators with the California Department of Insurance, who after executing a search warrant, found a bear costume in the suspects’ home.

From BBC

A woman who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following the deaths of three care home residents has been released without charge.

From BBC

It’s not clear what about the bag prompted suspicion.

From Los Angeles Times

Humberto Duran was arrested on suspicion of murder in 1993, implicated by a teenage witness who since recanted her account.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conjecture
• cynicism
• distrust
• impression
• jealousy
• misgiving
• mistrust
• notion
• skepticism
• uncertainty
• wariness