convict

adjective

con·vict | \ kən-ˈvikt

Definition of convict

(Entry 1 of 3)

archaic

: having been convicted

convict

verb

con·vict | \ kən-ˈvikt

convicted; convicting; convicts

Definition of convict (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to find or prove to be guilty The jury convicted them of fraud.

2 : to convince of error or sinfulness

intransitive verb

: to find a defendant guilty Remarkably, two of the jurors boldly dug in their heels and pressed to convict.— John Grisham

convict

noun

con·vict | \ ˈkän-ˌvikt

Definition of convict (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : a person convicted of and under sentence for a crime

2 : a person serving a usually long prison sentence

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about convict

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Synonyms & Antonyms for convict

Synonyms: Verb

condemn

Synonyms: Noun

con, jailbird

Antonyms: Verb

absolve, acquit, clear, exculpate, exonerate, vindicate

Examples of convict in a Sentence

Verb

There is sufficient evidence to convict. He was convicted in federal court. The jury convicted them on three counts of fraud. Have you ever been convicted of a crime?

Noun

a warning that the three escaped convicts were armed and dangerous

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The law contains measures to wipe clean the records of those previously convicted of cannabis offences. — The Economist, "More liberal, functional Illinois," 21 June 2019 Putting individuals convicted of crimes, especially violent crimes, in prison is thought to make the rest of us safer. — David J. Harding, Scientific American, "Do Prisons Make Us Safer?," 21 June 2019 Taking away the right to vote from people convicted of crimes isn’t unique to the United States. — Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, "The US is the only democracy to permanently deny voting rights to felons for all crimes," 19 June 2019 And after House had the audacity to bring her suit, in 1917 the MRB&PA leader was arrested, convicted of mail fraud and jailed. — Arica L. Coleman, Time, "The House Hearing on Slavery Reparations Is Part of a Long History. Here's What to Know on the Idea's Tireless Early Advocates," 18 June 2019 Criminal records Michigan: No provisions to pardon or expunge the criminal records of people convicted of marijuana crimes was included in the state’s marijuana legalization ballot proposal. — Kathleen Gray, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan could face competition after Illinois legislature approves recreational pot," 18 June 2019 He was sentenced to death in 2015 over a jailbreak during the 2011 uprising and to life in prison on espionage charges after being convicted of conspiring with Palestinian group Hamas, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and other foreign organizations. — Magdy Samaan And Bianca Britton, CNN, "Morsy's son blames Egyptian regime for 'slow deliberate medical murdering' of ex-President," 18 June 2019 Now, people convicted of certain crimes three times faced an automatic sentence of life in prison without the possibility of early release. — Matthew Van Meter, The New Republic, "The Judge and the Three-Strikes Convict," 17 June 2019 When a white woman was raped and brutally beaten in Central Park in 1989, five black teenagers were accused and convicted of the crime, based on confessions later found to have been coerced. — Zachary Woolfe, New York Times, "Review: ‘The Central Park Five’ Turns Injustice Into Opera," 16 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Supreme Court last year upheld the Delhi High Court's death penalty order for the four convicts. — Fox News, "India court rejects death sentence appeal in 2012 gang rape," 10 July 2018 Two other convicts are on death row over the bombing of the Australian Embassy here in 2004. — Anita Rachman, WSJ, "Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Alleged Islamic State Terror Leader," 18 May 2018 The arguments advanced on Johnson’s behalf were essentially the same made for thousands of other nonviolent drug convicts whose petitions for presidential clemency have been languishing at the Justice Department. — Peter Baker, BostonGlobe.com, "Trump offers clemency to imprisoned woman after push by Kardashian West," 7 June 2018 His character in Masterpiece PBS's Les Misérables, the long-suffering ex-convict Jean Valjean, does not. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Why Les Misérables's Dominic West Thinks Jean Valjean Is a Better Hero Than Spiderman," 15 Apr. 2019 After an ominous warning from one of the prison guards, the mystery convict is revealed — and it’s none other than Cletus Kasady, played by Woody Harrelson. — Alex Abad-santos, Vox, "Venom’s 2 end-credits scenes, explained," 5 Oct. 2018 Terrorism suspects and convicts being held there, most of whom were linked to the Islamic State, staged a two-day uprising, seizing weapons and hostages and killing five guards before eventually surrendering. — Joe Cochrane, New York Times, "Indonesia Sword Attack on Police Follows String of Deadly Bombings," 16 May 2018 Patrick Morrisey earned that honor, vanquishing Jenkins and former coal mine executive and convict Don Blankenship. — Chad Pergram, Fox News, "House Republicans had a bad night – can they prevent a bad November?," 10 May 2018 Sean Pelzer didn’t fit the standard profile of a State House lobbyist — not even a lobbyist on behalf of ex-convicts. — Adrian Walker, BostonGlobe.com, "Ex-offenders lose a tireless advocate," 3 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'convict.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.