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

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

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Example Sentences Learn More about conviction

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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 step-uncle, who was getting out of jail after a drug conviction, wanted to be a part of their child's life. — al.com, "In Alabama, rapists have parental rights," 10 June 2019 Hoegal, who is currently serving a life sentence for two previous murder convictions, was handed a second life sentence by Judge Sebastian Buerhmann. — Fox News, "German serial killer nurse sentenced to life in prison for murder of 85 patients," 7 June 2019 Baines was arrested and charged with theft with two or more prior convictions (State Jail Felony) and Possession of Marijuana (Class B Misdemeanor). — Karen Zurawski, Houston Chronicle, "Women face theft charges after Katy police operation," 7 June 2019 While he normally would have been sentenced by now, Brocksom switched defense attorneys after his conviction, and Stone is now handling his post-trial motions. — Jim Newton, Lake County News-Sun, "Man convicted of Gurnee murder last fall might finally be sentenced next month," 7 June 2019 Barnes started his line of questioning by asking about McGrier’s previous convictions, including for narcotics. — Juliana Kim, baltimoresun.com, "Former Baltimore officer and man he punched on viral video testify in assault trial," 7 June 2019 More convictions followed in 2015, according to reports. — Chris Harris, PEOPLE.com, "German Nurse Who Killed At Least 85 Patients Gets Life in Prison," 6 June 2019 Now, an appeals court has thrown out Whisenhunt's conviction, vacating his sentence. — Christina Capatides, CBS News, "A West Point cadet was sentenced to 21 years in prison for raping a sleeping classmate. Now, he's free to return to school.," 6 June 2019 Gipson’s criminal history includes a 2001 conviction for lewd acts with a child younger than 14, according to the California Department of Justice. — Gary Klien, The Mercury News, "Police arrest San Mateo sex offender, find stun gun," 6 June 2019

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.

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Last Updated

13 Jun 2019

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The first known use of conviction was in the 15th century

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More Definitions for conviction

conviction

noun

English 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

noun

con·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

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.