convict
[ verb, adjective kuhn-vikt; noun kon-vikt ]
/ verb, adjective kənˈvɪkt; noun ˈkɒn vɪkt /
Save This Word!
verb (used with object)
to prove or declare guilty of an offense, especially after a legal trial: to convict a prisoner of a felony.
to impress with a sense of guilt.
noun
a person proved or declared guilty of an offense.
a person serving a prison sentence.
adjective
Archaic. convicted.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
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 ); see con-, convince
OTHER WORDS FROM convict
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use convict in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for convict
convict
verb (kənˈvɪkt) (tr)
to pronounce (someone) guilty of an offence
noun (ˈkɒnvɪkt)
a person found guilty of an offence against the law, esp one who is sentenced to imprisonment
a person serving a prison sentence
adjective (kənˈvɪkt)
obsolete convicted
Derived forms of convict
convictable or convictible, adjectiveWord Origin for convict
C14: from Latin convictus convicted of crime, from convincere to prove guilty, convince
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012