convict

[kuhn-vikt, kon-vikt]

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.

noun

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

2. a person serving a prison sentence.

adjective

1. Archaic.,  convicted.

convict

verb

1. to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of convict¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of convict¹

C14: from Latin convictus convicted of crime, from convincere to prove guilty, _convince

Example Sentences

A 2013 trial of a doctor convicted of murdering his wife received some national attention.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The one-time Republican representative was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after he was convicted of wire fraud.

Read more on Salon

A total of 14 people have been convicted for their part in a £28m conspiracy to defraud more than 3,500 timeshare owners.

Read more on BBC

Two years later he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Read more on BBC

He has received death threats on a regular basis for years, including one from an anti-vaxxer who was convicted on seven counts in 2022 after threatening Wiener and being found in possession of weapons.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• captive 
• felon 
• prisoner