Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense convicts, present participle convicting, past tense, past participle convictedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (kənvɪkt). The noun is pronounced (kɒnvɪkt).
1. verb
If someone is convictedof a crime, they are found guilty of that crime in a law court.
In 1977 he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. [beV-ed of n/v-ing]
There was insufficient evidence to convict him. [VERB noun]
...a convicted drug dealer. [VERB-ed]
[Also V n of n]
Synonyms: find guilty, sentence, condemn, imprison More Synonyms of convict
2. countable noun
A convict is someone who is in prison.
[journalism]
Synonyms: prisoner, criminal, con [slang], lag [slang] More Synonyms of convict
convict in British English
verb (kənˈvɪkt)(transitive)
1.
to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence
noun (ˈkɒnvɪkt)
2.
a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment
3.
a person serving a prison sentence
adjective (kənˈvɪkt)
4. obsolete
convicted
Derived forms
convictable (conˈvictable) or convictible (conˈvictible)
adjective
Word origin
C14: from Latin convictus convicted of crime, from convincere to prove guilty, convince
convict in American English
(kənˈvɪkt; for n. ˈkɑnˌvɪkt)
verb transitive
1.
to prove (a person) guilty
convicted by the evidence
2.
to judge and find guilty of an offense charged
the jury convicted him of theft
3.
to bring to a realization of one's guilt
convicted by his own conscience
noun
4.
a person found guilty of a crime and sentenced by a court
5.
a person serving a sentence in prison
Word origin
ME convicten < L convictus, pp. of convincere: see convince
Examples of 'convict' in a sentence
convict
Only one was convicted and he is appealing.
The Sun (2016)
He denied conspiracy to murder but was convicted after cops linked phone records.
The Sun (2009)
Two other convicts were in court as witnesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One denied his offences and was convicted after trial.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The plaintiff was convicted of the crime.
Christianity Today (2000)
He was convicted and sentenced to death.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Both men had been convicted of drug trafficking.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The police said there was not enough evidence to convict.
The Sun (2015)
Wall was also convicted of conspiracy to rob.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They could face up to five years in prison if convicted.
The Sun (2010)
Are all convicted criminals allowed out for funerals?
The Sun (2014)
The convicted drug dealer got two further months after earlier admitting possessing ecstasy.
The Sun (2014)
If convicted under civilian law he will face death by lethal injection.
The Sun (2009)
Only one has been convicted and is likely to appeal.
The Sun (2014)
Both men were convicted of murder last week.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But what hard evidence could we produce to put him in court and convict him?
The Sun (2008)
He has not been convicted of an offence.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Canada bans anyone convicted of a crime that is also an offence there.
The Sun (2013)
He denied the charges but was convicted and faces sentence next month.
The Sun (2011)
Athletics is in a messy place if some of its biggest stars are convicted drugs cheats.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
As more offenders are convicted, more people will be sent to prison.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
In other languages
convict
British English: convict /kənˈvɪkt/ VERB
If someone is convicted of a crime, they are found guilty of it in a law court.
He was convicted of the crime.
American English: convict
Arabic: يُدينُ
Brazilian Portuguese: condenar
Chinese: 判罪
Croatian: osuđen
Czech: usvědčit uznat vinným
Danish: dømme
Dutch: veroordelen
European Spanish: condenar
Finnish: tuomita rikoksesta
French: condamner
German: verurteilen
Greek: καταδικάζω
Italian: condannare
Japanese: 有罪と決定する
Korean: 유죄를 입증하다
Norwegian: domfelle
Polish: skazać
European Portuguese: condenar
Romanian: a condamna
Russian: осудить
Latin American Spanish: condenar
Swedish: döma
Thai: พิสูจน์ว่ามีความผิด
Turkish: hükümlü
Ukrainian: визнавати винним
Vietnamese: kết án
British English: convict NOUN
A convict is someone who is in prison.
...his tale of two escaped convicts who get mistaken for priests.