conviction

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noun con·vic·tion \kən-ˈvik-shən\

Definition of conviction

1 : the act or process of finding a person guilty of a crime especially in a court of law
2a : the act of convincing a person of error or of compelling the admission of a truthb : the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth
3a : a strong persuasion or beliefb : the state of being convinced

See conviction defined for English-language learners

See conviction defined for kids

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 of conviction from the Web

Taurus This week will challenge your convictions and push you to the ends of your patience.

— jodie layne, Allure, "What This Week's Horoscope Means for You," 17 July 2017
Freed from prison in 2002 after a drug conviction, Moreland married, built three businesses and owns a home.

— steve bousquet, miamiherald, "Thousands of Florida felons wait decades to regain the right to vote," 13 July 2017
The state gained a particularly dark brand of notoriety when a 2014 Department of Justice report detailed the state’s troubling statistics regarding rape and subsequent convictions.

— jessica blankenship, Glamour, "Montana Finally Gets With the Times, Adds Consent to Rape Laws," 11 July 2017
His case is the first in which lying to the French Senate has led to a criminal conviction.

— yves sciama, Science | AAAS, "French scientist who lied about conflicts of interest to the Senate gets suspended 6-month sentence," 6 July 2017
Alabama law specifically prohibits the release of voter Social Security numbers, leaving only the request for information on felony convictions, voter registration in another state, military status and overseas citizenship in question.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Name, birthday, voting history? It's all available - for a price - from Alabama Secretary of State's office," 5 July 2017
Because the third target had a history of drug and weapon convictions, the officers were especially wary that this stop might be dangerous.

— kate morrissey, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Targeted immigration arrests in San Diego area have more than doubled under Trump," 3 July 2017
A conviction could land McFarland in prison for up to 20 years.

— suzannah weiss, Teen Vogue, "Fyre Festival Co-Founder Billy McFarland Arrested for Wire Fraud," 2 July 2017
Sting Like a Bee begins in 1966, two years after Ali won the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston, and takes readers through the 1971 Supreme Court decision reversing Ali's draft-dodging conviction.

— leigh montville, Philly.com, "'Sting Like a Bee': When the champ found His voice," 2 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of conviction

see ²convict

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of 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

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

CONVICTION Defined for English Language Learners

conviction

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noun

Definition of conviction for English Language Learners

law : the act of proving that a person is guilty of a crime in a court of law
: a strong belief or opinion
: the feeling of being sure that what you believe or say is true

CONVICTION Defined for Kids

conviction

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noun con·vic·tion \kən-ˈvik-shən\

Definition of conviction for Students

1 : a strong belief or opinion political convictions
2 : the state of mind of a person who is sure that what he or she believes or says is true She spoke with conviction.
3 : the act of proving or finding guilty : the state of being proven guilty He appealed his conviction.

Law Dictionary

conviction

noun con·vic·tion

Legal Definition of conviction

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 Editor's 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