conviction

noun

con·​vic·​tion kən-ˈvik-shən 

1

: the act or process of finding a person guilty of a crime especially in a court of law

2

a

: a strong persuasion or belief

b

: the state of being convinced

3

a

: the act of convincing a person of error or of compelling the admission of a truth

b

: the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth

Synonyms

• certainty
• assurance
• confidence
• satisfaction

Choose the Right Synonym for conviction

certainty, certitude, conviction mean a state of being free from doubt.

certainty and certitude are very close; certainty may stress the existence of objective proof

claims that cannot be confirmed with scientific certainty

, while certitude may emphasize a faith in something not needing or not capable of proof.

believes with certitude in an afterlife

conviction applies especially to belief strongly held by an individual.

holds firm convictions on every issue

opinion, view, belief, conviction, persuasion, sentiment mean a judgment one holds as true.

opinion implies a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute.

each expert seemed to have a different opinion

view suggests a subjective opinion.

very assertive in stating his views

belief implies often deliberate acceptance and intellectual assent.

a firm belief in her party's platform

conviction applies to a firmly and seriously held belief.

the conviction that animal life is as sacred as human

persuasion suggests a belief grounded on assurance (as by evidence) of its truth.

was of the persuasion that everything changes

sentiment suggests a settled opinion reflective of one's feelings.

her feminist sentiments are well-known

Examples of conviction in a Sentence

… a perfect example, I told Bobby, … why Realtors have to be prepared to work holidays. "Well, yeah," he said, utterly without conviction. —Jane Smiley, Good Faith, 2003

It was his conviction that if the words in the story were blurred because of the author's insensitivity, carelessness, or sentimentality, then the story suffered from a tremendous handicap. —Raymond Carver, The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987

She spoke in … the voice which people often used to express their deepest convictions … —Paula Fox, A Servant's Tale, 1984

Certainly the basis of our democracy is the conviction of the worth of the individual. —Robert Penn Warren, Democracy and Poetry, (1975) 1976

She hopes to avoid conviction.

In light of the evidence, a conviction seems certain.

He has three prior drunk-driving convictions.

Convictions for shoplifting have made it difficult for her to get a job.

a person of deep convictions

They share my strong conviction that the policy is misguided.

Recent Examples on the Web

The man from Mexico had prior convictions for car theft and drug possession. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 13 July 2025

Criminal justice and voting rights advocates in Massachusetts are trying to potentially put a question on the 2028 ballot that would allow those serving prison time on felony convictions to vote in state elections while behind bars, according to State House News. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 13 July 2025

Instead, the show reflects the tone and tactics of actual missions, like the arrest of Terry Sakamoto, a fugitive with prior convictions for robbery, assault and making criminal threats, per ABC News. —Aya Al-Hakim, People.com, 13 July 2025

Following his conviction, DNA evidence connected him to raping a teacher at gunpoint at school in 1997. —Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 13 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

see convict entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing conviction

• pre-conviction

Rhymes for conviction

• addiction
• affliction
• constriction
• depiction
• eviction
• infliction
• nonfiction
• prediction
• restriction
• antifriction
• benediction
• contradiction

Kids Definition

conviction

noun

con·​vic·​tion kən-ˈvik-shən 

1

: the act of convicting : the state of being convicted

2

a

: a strong belief or opinion

has deep convictions

b

: the state of mind of a person who is sure that what he or she believes or says is true

spoke with conviction

Legal Definition

conviction

noun

con·​vic·​tion

1

: the act or process of convicting

also : the final judgment entered after a finding of guilt

a prior conviction of murder

would not overturn the conviction

compare acquittal

Note: Jurisdictions differ as to what constitutes conviction for various statutes (as habitual offender statutes). Conviction is rarely applied to civil cases.

2

: guilt

the judge will enter a judgment of conviction

—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel