conviction
/kənˈvɪkʃ(ə)n
/noun
1A formal declaration by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is guilty of a criminal offence: she had a previous conviction for a similar offence...
- The Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the conviction for murder and substituted one of manslaughter.
- The fact that a claimant has convictions for offences of dishonesty does not mean that a jury must disbelieve him.
- At an early stage the jury were told of the appellant's previous convictions.
Synonyms
declaration/pronouncement of guilt, sentence, judgement
2A firmly held belief or opinion: she takes pride in stating her political convictions [with clause]: his conviction that the death was no accident was stronger...
- This afternoon I have tried to set before you some of my most deeply held convictions and beliefs.
- There is no reason why a BBC journalist should not have political convictions.
- And yet how can I turn away from my faith in God, my political convictions, my gender?
Synonyms
belief, opinion, view, thought, persuasion, idea, position, stance;
(article of) faith, credo, creed, tenet, dogma
2.1 [mass noun] The quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says: she had been speaking for some five minutes with force and conviction...
- The boy's voice lacked much conviction but worse than that he sounded as if he were about to cry.
- Kathy said but there was a lack of conviction in her voice now and I smiled inwardly.
- If you agree with me, then stand up with conviction for what we believe in and fight for it.
Synonyms
certainty, certitude, assurance, confidence, sureness, positiveness;
no shadow of a doubt
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin convictio(n-), from the verb convincere (see convince).