conviction

noun con·vic·tion \ kən-ˈvik-shən \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of conviction

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

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

Milligan has several previous felony convictions, according to court records, and cannot legally possess a firearm.

— tony rizzo, kansascity, "Stolen gun from Overland Park found after shot fired outside KC motel | The Kansas City Star," 16 Apr. 2018
Former NBC10 anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah stepped away from the station after her husband’s conviction on racketeering and other charges, but she’s not done working to tell impactful stories.

— ray boyd, Philly.com, "Most famous Cosby accuser takes stand, ICE's aggressive tactics in Pa., Philly playoff weekend | Morning Newsletter," 13 Apr. 2018
File photo of Texas State Sen. Carlos Uresti speaking with the media outside the U.S. Federal Courthouse after his conviction on all 11 counts in his criminal fraud trial, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018.

— patrick danner, San Antonio Express-News, "Convicted state Sen. Uresti surrenders law license," 13 Apr. 2018
The teen has a pending application for youthful offender status which, if granted, would give him a maximum sentence of three years in jail and would not leave a felony conviction on his record.

— ivana hrynkiw, AL.com, "Jury deliberates in case of teen charged in Hoover man's slaying," 12 Apr. 2018
The case has been in federal court ever since a state appellate court upheld her conviction on a single felony charge and the Ohio Supreme Court, in 2016, declined to review the lower court’s decision.

— kevin grasha, Cincinnati.com, "After more than 3 years, here’s where the Tracie Hunter case stands," 8 Apr. 2018
Homosexuality was decriminalized in New Zealand in 1986, but men who were convicted before that date still have the convictions on their records.

— louisa wright, USA TODAY, "New Zealand passes law to clear historical gay sex convictions," 4 Apr. 2018
For most defendants, a conviction on misdemeanor charges would mean a fine and probation, not prison time.

— jason meisner, chicagotribune.com, "Feds ask judge to send former Congressman Mel Reynolds back to prison for two years," 30 Mar. 2018
The indictments say a conviction on each charge results in a prison sentence of between five and 17 months.

— Fox News, "Charges in Kansas water park death carry prison time, fines," 28 Mar. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

conviction Synonyms

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

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

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