suspicion
suh-SPIHSH-uhn
Suspicion (noun) means a feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done something wrong, without proof. Example: “I had a nagging suspicion that someone had been reading my diary.”
noun
1
A feeling that something is wrong or that someone has done something wrong, without proof.
"I had a nagging suspicion that someone had been reading my diary."
"Police arrested him on suspicion of theft."
"Her sudden silence aroused suspicion."
2
A very small trace or hint of something.
"She spoke with a suspicion of an accent that I could not place."
"The tea had a suspicion of mint, barely noticeable."
"There was just a suspicion of garlic in the sauce."
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.
Common pairings
under suspicion
arouse suspicion
a suspicion of
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Word forms
- Plural
- suspicions
- Third person singular
- suspicions
- Past tense
- suspicioned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I had a nagging _____ that someone had been reading my diary.
Etymology
From Latin suspicio, from suspicere, "to look up at, mistrust" — from sub- ("up to") plus specere ("to look at").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for suspicion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all 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.
