suspicion

suh-SPISH-uhn/səˈspɪʃ.ən/

Pluralsuspicions (some meanings)

Verbsuspicions, suspicioning, suspicioned

6 meanings of suspicion

1
noununcountable
The act of believing that someone has done something wrong.
Like a small alarm in your mind that warns you something might be wrong.
She looked at the broken window with suspicion.
The guard's suspicion grew when the man kept checking his watch.
Similardistrust, mistrust, wariness, doubt
Oppositetrust, confidence, faith
Note
2
noununcountable
The state of being thought to have done something wrong.
Like having a spotlight pointed at you while everyone wonders if you did it.
After the money vanished, the new worker fell under suspicion.
She lived under suspicion until the real thief confessed.
3
nouncountable
A belief that something is true even when there is no proof for it.
Like guessing the end of a story before you reach the last page.
She had a suspicion that it would rain, though the sky was clear.
I have a suspicion that he forgot my birthday again.
Similarhunch, feeling, inkling, impression, notion
4
nounusually singular
A very small amount or trace of something, just barely noticeable.
Like a tiny pinch of salt you can hardly taste.
The soup had just a suspicion of pepper.
There was a suspicion of a smile on her face.
Similarhint, trace, touch, tinge, whiff
Note
5
noununcountable
A feeling of doubt about whether something is true or right.
Like a quiet voice that asks, are you really sure about that?
The children believed the story without any suspicion.
A small suspicion about the directions made them stop and check the map.
Similardoubt, misgiving, uncertainty, qualm
Oppositecertainty, confidence
6
verbdialectaltransitive
To think that someone has done wrong or that something is true.
Like getting a gut feeling that something isn't right.
I suspicion he took the last piece of pie.
We suspicion that the well is starting to run dry.
Similarsuspect, distrust
Oppositetrust
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin, from a verb meaning to look up at, made of parts meaning 'up' and 'to look at'. It reached English through Middle English suspecioun.