convict

1 of 3

noun

con·​vict ˈkän-ˌvikt 

1

: a person convicted of and under sentence for a crime

2

: a person serving a usually long prison sentence

convict

2 of 3

verb

con·​vict kən-ˈvikt 

convicted; convicting; convicts

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

3 of 3

adjective

con·​vict kən-ˈvikt 

archaic

: having been convicted

Synonyms

Noun

• prisoner
• con
• inmate

Verb

• condemn
• sentence
• indict
• denounce
• punish
• accuse

Examples of convict in a Sentence

Noun

a warning that the three escaped convicts were armed and dangerous

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?

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The former series has historically opened its doors to paroled and exonerated convicts (and even those with time served), from fraudstress Anna Delvey (season 33), to rapper Lil' Kim (season 8) to Real Housewife and tax evader Teresa Guidice (season 31). —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 1 July 2025

Tim Matheson played Griff King, a former convict who earns a second chance working on Ponderosa during the show’s final season. —Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 29 June 2025

Verb

Ryan Widmer, convicted of murder in the 2008 drowning of his wife, will have a parole hearing July 30. —Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 24 July 2025

Ryan Widmer, convicted of murder in his wife’s 2008 drowning death, is up for parole next week. —Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French convicter, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere to refute, convict

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing convict

• escaped convict

Kids Definition

convict

1 of 2 verb

con·​vict kən-ˈvikt 

: to find or prove guilty

convict

2 of 2 noun

con·​vict ˈkän-ˌvikt 

: a person serving a prison sentence

Legal Definition

convict

1 of 2 transitive verb

con·​vict kən-ˈvikt 

: to find guilty of a criminal offense

was convicted of fraud

compare acquit

convict

2 of 2 noun

con·​vict ˈkän-ˌvikt 

: a person convicted of and serving a sentence for a crime

Etymology

Transitive verb

Latin convictus past participle of convincere to find guilty, prove, from com- with, together + vincer to conquer