Respondent vs. Suspect — What's the Difference?

A respondent is a person who is called upon to issue a response to a communication made by another. The term is used in legal contexts, in survey methodology, and in psychological conditioning.

In law enforcement jargon, a suspect is a known person accused or suspected of committing a crime. Police and reporters in the United States often use the word suspect as a jargon when referring to the perpetrator of the offense (perp in dated US slang).

A party against whom a petition is filed, especially one in an appeal or a divorce case.

To consider (something) to be true or probable on little or no evidence

A person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a questionnaire or responding to an advertisement

To have doubts about (something); distrust

In the position of a party defending against a petition

To consider (a person) guilty without proof

Replying to something

To have suspicion.

Involving or denoting a response, especially a conditioned reflex, to a specific stimulus.

One who is suspected, especially of having committed a crime.

One who responds.

Open to or viewed with suspicion

(Law) The defending party in certain legal proceedings, as in a case brought by petition.

(transitive) To imagine or suppose (something) to be true, or to exist, without proof.

Giving or given as an answer; responsive.

(transitive) To distrust or have doubts about (something or someone).

(Law) Of or being a respondent in a proceeding.

(transitive) To believe (someone) to be guilty.

One who responds; one who replies.

(intransitive) To have suspicion.

(law) A defendant, especially in a case instituted by a petition or in appellate and divorce proceedings.

To look up to; to respect.

A person replying to a questionnaire.

A person who is suspected of something, in particular of committing a crime.

Disposed or expected to respond; answering; according; corresponding.

Viewed with suspicion; suspected.

Disposed or expected to respond; answering; according; corresponding.

(nonstandard) Viewing with suspicion; suspecting.

One who responds. It corresponds in general to defendant.

Suspicious; inspiring distrust.

The codefendant (especially in a divorce proceeding) who is accused of adultery with the corespondent

Suspected; distrusted.

Someone who responds

Suspicion.

Replying;

One who, or that which, is suspected; an object of suspicion; - formerly applied to persons and things; now, only to persons suspected of crime.

To imagine to exist; to have a slight or vague opinion of the existence of, without proof, and often upon weak evidence or no evidence; to mistrust; to surmise; - commonly used regarding something unfavorable, hurtful, or wrong; as, to suspect the presence of disease.

To imagine to be guilty, upon slight evidence, or without proof; as, to suspect one of equivocation.

To hold to be uncertain; to doubt; to mistrust; to distruct; as, to suspect the truth of a story.

To look up to; to respect.

To imagine guilt; to have a suspicion or suspicions; to be suspicious.

Someone who is under suspicion

A person or institution against whom an action is brought in a court of law; the person being sued or accused

Imagine to be the case or true or probable;

Regard as untrustworthy; regard with suspicion; have no faith or confidence in

Hold in suspicion; believe to be guilty;

Not as expected;