Verdacht

Verdacht is a German noun meaning suspicion or the belief that something is likely true, often about wrongdoing, without conclusive proof. The term is used in everyday language as well as in legal and journalistic contexts.

Common phrases include unter Verdacht stehen (to be under suspicion), jemanden unter Verdacht stellen (to place someone under suspicion), Verdacht erregen (to arouse suspicion), and dem Verdacht ausgesetzt sein (to be subjected to suspicion). The word usually conveys a provisional assessment rather than definitive guilt.

In legal and investigative contexts, Verdacht signals a preliminary assessment that guides inquiries or potential charges, which require further evidence to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. It can also describe a subjective feeling or impression about a situation or person.

Etymology: Verdacht is derived from the verb verdächtigen (to suspect); the noun denotes the state or condition of being suspected. It is typically used with definite articles in the singular (der Verdacht) and features prominently in phrases that describe suspicion in law, media, and daily life.

See also: Suspicion; German legal terms.