What does interest mean in this phrase : person of interest
I know the basic meaning of interest. But I still confused when saw it in some literatures, especially in academic papers.

Does it mean sth. that people want to find? So person of interest means the person who is wanted by the police?

Question

What does interest mean in this phrase : person of interest
I know the basic meaning of interest. But I still confused when saw it in some literatures, especially in academic papers.

Does it mean sth. that people want to find? So person of interest means the person who is wanted by the police?

Answer

This is usually used in relation to a criminal case. A person of interest is someone the police think are related to the crime or may have information. A person of interest may become a suspect once more evidence is collected.