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# person of interest

noun phrase (a person of interest, persons of interest); police and legal term

«person of interest» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

(euphemism, official) someone the police want to question about a crime and may suspect, but have not charged.

### In the lessons

Police and news use it to show they are interested in someone without saying «suspect», which could be unfair before evidence. Official register, mainly USA, also elsewhere.

### Examples

- Police have named a person of interest in the robbery.
- A person of interest is not the same as a suspect.
- The man was a person of interest but was later cleared.
- Detectives want to speak to a person of interest seen near the shop.
- The news said there were two persons of interest.
- «Person of interest» sounds polite, but it means the police are watching you.

### Note

It does not mean the person is guilty. Plural in police talk is often «persons of interest». Plain word: suspect.