1.
suspicion of a crime; charge; accusation
Suspicion that someone has committed a crime, or the formal charge brought against them. A legal and journalistic term frequently seen in news reports.
窃盗の嫌疑をかけられた。
They were suspected of theft.
嫌疑が晴れて釈放された。
The suspicion was cleared and they were released.
殺人の嫌疑で逮捕された男は容疑を否認している。
The man arrested on suspicion of murder denies the charges.
A formal/legal term. Not to be confused with homophone 建議 (formal recommendation). Related terms: 容疑 (suspicion, used in 容疑者 — suspect), 被疑者 (suspect, legal term). Common collocations: 嫌疑をかける (to cast suspicion on), 嫌疑が晴れる (suspicion is cleared), 嫌疑不十分 (insufficient evidence for charges), 嫌疑なし (no grounds for suspicion).