conviction

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

2 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

3 a :a strong persuasion or belief

b :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

A former Wheaton College professor who was on probation for a child pornography conviction was re-sentenced to prison Wednesday for downloading a 1950s movie that featured images of naked children.

— clifford ward, Wheaton Glen Ellyn, "Ex-Wheaton College professor imprisoned for viewing film with nude children," 30 Aug. 2017
The sheriff's past is riddled with controversial and discriminatory practices, many of which led to his conviction last month.

— christina coleman, Essence.com, "Trump Pardons Racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio As Hurricane Barrels Towards Texas," 25 Aug. 2017
Phoenix (AP) -- President Donald Trump isn't expected to take action Tuesday on a possible pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio's conviction for intentionally disobeying a judge's order in an immigration case.

— Bloomberg.com, "Trump Isn't Expected to Pardon Joe Arpaio on Tuesday," 22 Aug. 2017
On Monday, America got the other Trump, who mechanically reads speeches written in a voice not his own, showing neither passion nor conviction.

— conor friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "Trump Backs a Surge into Afghanistan He's Unfit to Lead," 22 Aug. 2017
My conviction that eclipses are not sent as inherently purposeful messages from an omnipotent deity need not leave them absent of moral significance.

— rabbi dan fink, idahostatesman, "Let Monday’s eclipse be a call to action on climate change," 18 Aug. 2017
The Greater Birmingham Humane Society has offered a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "Puppies abandoned, run over; search for suspect underway," 15 Aug. 2017
Farouk El-Baz, a space scientist at Boston University and member of the library's advisory board, is optimistic that the appeals court will overturn the conviction.

— erik stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Researchers rally around science advocate convicted in Egypt," 11 Aug. 2017
Other convictions since 2002 include felony possession or use of a firearm, aggravated battery to a government employee and robbery, according to IDOC.

— marwa eltagouri, chicagotribune.com, "Man gets 7 years for shot fired near Wrigley after Cubs 2015 division win," 9 Aug. 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

conviction Synonyms

Synonyms

assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, cocksureness, confidence, doubtlessness, face, positiveness, satisfaction, sureness, surety

Antonyms

doubt, incertitude, nonconfidence, uncertainty

Related Words

authoritarianism, dogmatism; decisiveness, determination, firmness, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve

Near Antonyms

hesitancy, hesitation, indecisiveness, irresolution; disbelief, incredulity, unbelief; anxiety, concern, misgiving; distrust, mistrust, suspicion

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 Kids

conviction

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

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

2 :guilt