A person on whom there is a suspicion of having committed a crime or offense. The term is used in most judicial systems before prosecution begins. Once it does, the suspect becomes known as an accused, or a defendant.

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition, Copyright 2010 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

A suspicion is a feeling that something might exist, be true, or happen, without proof. The room smelt suspiciously of garlic. The cause of the fire was suspected to be faulty wiring. To suspect is also to think that someone might have done something wrong, dishonest, or unpleasant. Those who have been taken into custody for questioning by police are often referred to as suspects, although the word is more generally applied to people who are believed to be guilty.

A person on whom there is a suspicion that they may have committed a criminal offence must be read their Miranda Rights before being interrogated by police. In an emergency situation where a suspect is being arrested in public, this does not require a warrant. However, if the suspect is arrested in their home then a warrant must be obtained from a judge or magistrate.