convict

American  

[kuhn-vikt, kon-vikt] / kənˈvɪkt, ˈkɒn vɪkt /

verb (used with object)

1. to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial.

   to convict a prisoner of a felony.

2. to impress with a sense of guilt.

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noun

1. a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.

2. a person serving a prison sentence.

adjective

1. Archaic. convicted.

convict British  

verb

1. to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence

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noun

1. a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment

2. a person serving a prison sentence

adjective

1. obsolete convicted

Other Word Forms

• convictable adjective
• convictible adjective
• convictive adjective
• convictively adverb
• preconvict verb (used with object)
• reconvict verb (used with object)
• unconvicting adjective
• unconvictive adjective

Etymology

Origin of convict

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb convicten, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere, equivalent to con- “with, together” + vic-, variant stem of vincere “to overcome” + -tus past participle suffix; Middle English noun convict “(a) convict,” adjective convict “convicted,” past participle of convicten “to convince” (or directly from Latin ); con-, convince

Example Sentences

In “Iron Lung” Fischbach plays a convict forced into a mission on an alien moon.

From The Wall Street Journal

Motin, from Saint Petersburg, showed no emotion as he was convicted by a jury at London's Old Bailey court.

From Barron's

Motin, from Saint Petersburg, showed no emotion as he was convicted by a jury at London's Old Bailey court.

From Barron's

The defendants were all convicted last month at Stratford Magistrates' Court of harassment without violence.

From BBC

He would only lose his position as an MP if he was charged, convicted and jailed.

From BBC

Related Words

• captive
• felon
• prisoner