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 : a strong persuasion or belief
b : the state of being convinced
3a : 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
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Synonyms & Antonyms for conviction
Synonyms
- assurance,
- assuredness,
- certainty,
- certitude,
- cocksureness,
- confidence,
- doubtlessness,
- face,
- positiveness,
- satisfaction,
- sureness,
- surety
Antonyms
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web Political neuroscience, however, attempts to deepen these observations by supplying evidence that a belief or bias manifests as a measure of brain volume or activity—demonstrating that an attitude, conviction or misconception is, in fact, genuine.
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Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, "Conservative and Liberal Brains Might Have Some Real Differences," 26 Oct. 2020 The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.
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Tod Worner, National Review, "A Dangerous Imbalance: Restoring Order to a Republic in Crisis," 25 Oct. 2020 Curtis was released from prison in April after serving time for a 2011 homicide by assault conviction.
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Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, "Man arrested on accusation he set pregnant woman on fire at a Murray hotel," 24 Oct. 2020 Except for the weapons charge, each count is punishable by up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.
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Joe Guillen, Detroit Free Press, "Man charged in Whitmer kidnap plot was 'soft,' kicked out of group, lawyer says," 23 Oct. 2020 Since then, the state automatically sealed 107,000 misdemeanor convictions and 16 million cases that never resulted in any conviction at all.
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Christen Smith, Washington Examiner, "Pennsylvania Clean Slate Act update headed to governor’s desk," 23 Oct. 2020 Police charged the man with OVI and refusing to take a breath test while having an OVI conviction on his record within the last 20 years.
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cleveland, "Drunk man driving 100 miles per hour arrested after passing officer’s car on highway: Solon police blotter," 22 Oct. 2020 Becciu has repeatedly denied involvement in Pell's conviction.
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Rod Mcguirk, Star Tribune, "Australian police not investigating Vatican money transfer," 22 Oct. 2020 Andrew George, a white-collar litigator at Baker Botts in Washington who does pro bono wrongful conviction work, was skeptical at first.
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Washington Post, "A flawed investigation left Jason Lively behind bars for 15 years for a fire he didn’t set. He’s not alone.," 22 Oct. 2020
See MoreThese 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.
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More Definitions for conviction
conviction
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of conviction
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
See the full definition for conviction in the English Language Learners Dictionary
conviction
nouncon·vic·tion | \ kən-ˈvik-shən \
\Kids Definition of conviction
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.
conviction
nouncon·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 the judge will enter a judgment of conviction— W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel
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Time Traveler for conviction
The first known use of conviction was in the 15th century
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