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

Lysenko benefited from Stalin’s suspicion of and hostility toward scientific experts, whom his henchmen denigrated as “enemies of the people” for their defense of “pure science for the sake of science.”

From Los Angeles Times

Even worse was the widespread suspicion that she didn’t stand for anything.

From Salon

Good, who flaunted her engagement ring on the carpet, began dating Majors months after he was arrested in New York City in March 2023 on suspicion of assaulting ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari.

From Los Angeles Times

The fact that there have been some public disagreements with the regulator has only fuelled that suspicion.

From BBC

Mr Mukhopadhyay’s suspicions aroused when a caller asked him why he hadn't redeemed his mutual funds - not a question a police officer would usually ask on the phone.

From BBC

Related Words

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

More About Suspicion

What does suspicion mean?

Suspicion is the state or act of suspecting something—having a sense that it may be true without knowing with certainty.

Suspicion can also refer to this sense, as in I had a suspicion that I was going to be fired, or an instance of suspecting someone of something, as in My suspicions turned out to be right—they had been stealing from the register.

A suspicion is usually based on something, such as a hunch or some kind of evidence, but the word is typically used in situations in which there is some doubt—when someone suspects something, but isn’t sure.

Suspicion is most commonly used in negative contexts, but this isn’t always the case. For example, you might have a suspicion that someone is planning a surprise party for you.

Suspicion can also refer to a state of mind, as in He’s always been prone to suspicion. To regard something with suspicion is to regard it with distrust.

Sometimes, suspicion refers to the state of being suspected, especially of a crime or other wrongdoing. This sense of the word is often used in phrases like under suspicion and on suspicion of, as in He was arrested on suspicion of robbery.

Someone who’s considered highly trustworthy might be described as above suspicion, meaning you would never suspect them of doing anything wrong.

The adjective suspicious can describe a person who has suspicions about others, as in My parents got suspicious when I kept asking whether they’d be home tomorrow, or someone or something that arouses suspicion, as in a suspicious package.

Example: We have suspected it all along, and what happened today confirmed our suspicions.

Where does suspicion come from?

The first records of the word suspicion come from the 1200s. It comes from the Latin suspīciō, meaning “distrust,” from the verb suspicere, “to mistrust.”

The word suspect is based on the same root as suspicion (ultimately coming from the Latin specere, meaning “to observe,” or “to keep an eye on”) and is often used in many of the same contexts. To suspect something is to have a suspicion. A person investigated or arrested on suspicion of having committed a crime is called a suspect.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to suspicion?

• suspicious (adjective)

What are some synonyms for suspicion?

• misgiving
• hunch
• notion
• distrust
• mistrust

What are some words that share a root or word element with suspicion? 

• above suspicion
• suspect
• soupcon

What are some words that often get used in discussing suspicion?

• raise
• arouse
• confirm
• under
• doubt
• crime
• murder
• reasonable

How is suspicion used in real life?

Suspicion is usually (though not always) used in negative contexts, especially ones involving someone doing something wrong. It always implies that what’s being suspected isn’t known for sure. 

i have a suspicion that tik tok was intentionally named to mock our inability to properly manage time while on it. this time warp portal of an app is 100% intentional and they are subliminally rubbing it in our faces.

— lianna (@lianna3125) January 20, 2021

As we watched and divided briefly glimpsed body parts by two, we had begun to suspect that there was more than one chick in the #redtailedhawk nest. Suspicions were confirmed! Two little #raptor heads appeared! 🦖🦖🦖 #TwitterNatureCommunity #BirdPhotography #BirdsOfPrey #Birds pic.twitter.com/69CH0shRJH

— Dr Gail Barnes (@ZAGrrl) December 2, 2020

Hong Kong police arrest 11 on suspicion of aiding activists' escape attempt: media https://t.co/RGCWFngmt3 pic.twitter.com/so5lw3Cj96

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 14, 2021

 

 

Try using suspicion!

Which of the following words can be a synonym of suspicion? 

A. distrust
B. mistrust
C. misgiving
D. all of the above