sus
/sʌs/
adjective
Origin
English
suspicious — arousing suspicion
Overview
Meaning Now
- informal abbreviation of 'suspicious' or 'suspect', denoting someone or something untrustworthy or questionable.
Language path
Latin → English → English
Earliest form
sus
Earliest period
Early 20th century
Journey
The term originated as police jargon in the UK to describe a 'suspect' or a 'suspicious person' under the 'Sus Law', which allowed police to stop and search individuals based on perceived suspicious behavior. In 2020, the term experienced a massive resurgence in popularity due to its frequent use in the social deduction game 'Among Us', where players accuse each other of being the 'impostor' by labeling them as 'sus'.
Evolution
- 1920s
sus
“suspicious person or activity”
Used in British police slang for 'suspect'.
- 2020
sus
“generally untrustworthy or weird”
Popularized globally through the video game 'Among Us'.
Connections
Word parts
sus
root
shortened form of suspicious
Explore next
Related to sus
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.