What is the difference between a "suspect" and a "person of interest".

“Person of interest” is a British police term that’s been adapted in some parts of the US. “Suspect” has such a presumption of guilt that it’s no longer useful. After all, just because a person is a suspect doesn’t mean that they did it! Eventually, though, the same thing will happen to “person of interest”, too, as it gets tied to meaning “that’s the ruddy bastard we think wot did it!”, so not to worry.

Orwell never reckoned on the euphemism treadmill, did he?

Person of interest can be less than a suspect. A person of interest can be someone who has information about the crime or who the police want to talk to.

I’ll bet it has something to do wih legalities. You can’t call someone a suspect because they’ll sue. Also, what @aprilsimnel an @marinelife said.

If you are a suspect, someone suspects you for being involved in the crime. If you are a person of interest you might have seen something, know someone that’s involved or generally just have information related to the crime.

Obviously a suspect is a person of interest, but a person of interest can be a lot of things

Being a “suspect” has developed a stigma, and people are often ostracized for being a suspect in a crime (even if it turns out they are completely innocent). The “person of interest” term came into play imo to avoid that stigma… but they are still that usually, suspects. (though the term is often used to describe witnesses or people with information who police do not suspect as the criminal at all)

Nothing. They are one and the same.

“Suspect” is a stronger term; it refers to someone the police suspect of having committed the crime. A “person of interest” is just someone who sparks their interest for any kind of reason. They might have behaved strangely, they might have seen something, they might have information, etc. A “person of interest” can become a suspect after further investigation, of course.

Of course!

The thing to watch out for is the usage in media. Some Nancy Grace-type will say “a person of interest” while raising an eyebrow editorially at the camera, and there goes another useful phrase shot to hell.