suspect person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspect person" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an individual who is believed to be involved in suspicious or criminal activity. Example: "The police are looking for a suspect person seen near the scene of the crime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

As a newspaper reporter (an intellectual) his father was a frequent target of criticism and his mother chose to divorce his father rather than be associated with such a suspect person.

Columbia University

be detained for months, sometimes years, without the possibility of release; they may have been convicted of only minor crimes — for example, minor drug offenses, or crimes of 'moral turpitude' such as illegally downloading music or possessing stolen bus transfers; and they sometimes may be innocent spouses or children of a suspect person," Breyer wrote.

The Washington Post

(If you need access to a suspect person's encrypted data you can always install malware on their device.

TechCrunch

decades, he has been a. suspect, person of interest and.

Los Angeles Times

He has been a suspect, person of interest or defendant in those cases, each time confounding authorities as they have tried and failed and tried again to build murder cases against him.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"If a police officer stands by and watches his colleague beat up a suspected person, his failure to intervene is evidence of encouragement to carry out the assault," Judge Dufton wrote in his ruling.

The New York Times

Police held one falsely suspected person for several weeks before media and a cyber crime expert received anonymous messages containing information that investigators conceded could only have been known by the real culprit.

BBC

One suspecting person, however, set up a camera to catch the perpetrator in the act in his or her home, leading to this hilarious video.

Huffington Post

The bijou bottles were placed in ice jar and were taken to the field where we collect the samples from the identified suspected person.

BioMed Research International

It is first agreed and settled among them, what suspected Persons shall be accused of a Plot: Then, effectual Care is taken to secure all their Letters and other Papers, and put the Owners in Chains.

Princeton University

'That all warrants, without oath or affirmation, to search suspected places, or to seize any person or property, are grievious and oppressive; and all general warrants—to search suspected places, or to apprehend suspected persons, without naming or describing the place, or the person in special—are illegal, and ought not to be granted.' See 3 Thorpe, Federal and State Constitutions (1909), 1688.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal matters, consider using more specific terms like "person of interest" or "suspect in custody" to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity. Using "suspect person" is correct, but precision enhances professionalism.

Common error

Avoid using "suspect person" excessively in formal reports or academic papers. Opt for alternatives like "suspected individual" or specify their role (e.g., "the accused") for a more polished and professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suspect person" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies an individual who is under suspicion, acting as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig provides examples where it's used to describe individuals targeted by law enforcement or perceived as potentially involved in unlawful activities.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "suspect person" is grammatically correct, although its usage is relatively uncommon. Ludwig AI confirms that it is suitable for written English to refer to an individual suspected of wrongdoing. While acceptable, more precise alternatives such as "person of interest" or "suspected individual" are often preferred for increased clarity and formality, particularly in legal and formal contexts. The phrase sees usage across News & Media, Academia, and Science, indicating a neutral register. Remember, while using "suspect person" is correct, selecting the most contextually appropriate term will enhance the precision and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suspected individual

Replaces "person" with "individual", offering a slightly more formal tone.

person of interest

Indicates someone who is being investigated but not formally accused.

potential suspect

Highlights the possibility of suspicion without confirming it.

prime suspect

Refers to the person considered most likely to have committed a crime.

alleged perpetrator

Used when the person's guilt has not been proven in court.

suspect in custody

Specifies that the suspect is being held by law enforcement.

named suspect

Refers to a suspect who has been publicly identified.

suspected offender

A more formal term, often used in legal or official contexts.

possible culprit

Suggests someone who might be responsible for a wrongdoing.

person under suspicion

Emphasizes the state of being suspected.

FAQs

What does "suspect person" mean?

The term "suspect person" refers to an individual who is suspected of being involved in a crime or wrongdoing. It indicates that this person is under scrutiny or investigation but has not necessarily been proven guilty.

What are some alternatives to "suspect person"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "suspected individual", "person of interest", "potential suspect", or "alleged perpetrator". These options can provide more nuance or formality.

Is it better to say "suspect person" or "suspected person"?

"Suspect person" and "suspected person" can both be used, but "suspect person" is generally used when referring to someone who is currently under suspicion. "Suspected person" might imply that the suspicion has been ongoing or previously existed.

How is a "suspect person" different from a "person of interest"?

A "suspect person" is someone who is believed to be potentially involved in a crime, while a "person of interest" is someone who investigators believe may have information related to a crime, but isn't necessarily suspected of committing it. A "person of interest" is not necessarily a suspect.