convict

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

Synonyms of convict

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

Examples of convict in a Sentence

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

Anthony faces five to 99 years or a life sentence if convicted. —Dawn White, CBS News, 7 June 2026

Timothy Hennis, was convicted by a military court for the 1985 rape and murder of a woman and the murders of her two young daughters in North Carolina. —Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2026

Buyer was convicted by a federal jury in New York after testifying at a trial that lasted more than a week. —Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 6 June 2026

From 2007 to this year, Alexis has been convicted in at least a dozen traffic cases for varying criminal and dangerous driving behavior in Broward, according to court records. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 6 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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

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

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