suspicion
Suspicion (noun) means a feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done something wrong, without proof. Example: “Police arrested him on suspicion of theft.”
How to use suspicion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA feeling that something is off or that someone is guilty, or a faint trace of something.
Word forms
suspicioned past tense, suspicions plural, suspicions singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Police arrested him on _____ of theft.
Etymology
From Latin suspicio, from suspicere, "to look up at, mistrust" — from sub- ("up to") plus specere ("to look at").
Related words
Rhymes for suspicion
Frequently asked questions
What does “suspicion” mean?
The word “suspicion” means a feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done something wrong, without proof. In plain terms, a feeling that something is off or that someone is guilty, or a faint trace of something.
How do you pronounce “suspicion”?
“Suspicion” is pronounced suh-SPIHSH-uhn (/səˈspɪʃ.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “suspicion” in a sentence?
Here is “suspicion” used in a sentence: “Police arrested him on suspicion of theft.”
What is another word for “suspicion”?
Words with a similar meaning to “suspicion” include inkling.
What part of speech is “suspicion”?
“Suspicion” is a noun.
Where does the word “suspicion” come from?
The word “suspicion” comes from Latin. From Latin suspicio, from suspicere, "to look up at, mistrust" — from sub- ("up to") plus specere ("to look at").
Is “suspicion” a common word?
“Suspicion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “suspicion” have?
“Suspicion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done something wrong, without proof.
What is the difference between "suspicion" and "doubt"?
"Suspicion" is a feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done wrong, usually pointing toward guilt or a hidden problem. "Doubt" is simply uncertainty about whether something is true or will happen, so you can have suspicions about a person but doubts about a plan.
What is the difference between "on suspicion" and "under suspicion"?
"On suspicion of" states the suspected offence someone is arrested or held for, as in "arrested on suspicion of theft." "Under suspicion" means a person is currently regarded as possibly guilty. One names the reason; the other describes the person's status.
How is "a suspicion of" used to mean a small amount?
"A suspicion of" can describe a very slight trace or hint of something, as in "a suspicion of garlic" in a dish. Used this way it has nothing to do with distrust and simply means barely detectable.
What is the difference between "suspicion" and "hunch"?
A "suspicion" often carries a negative sense that something is wrong or someone is guilty, and can build on small clues. A "hunch" is a more neutral gut feeling or guess about anything, not necessarily about wrongdoing.