conviction

American  

[kuhn-vik-shuhn] / kənˈvɪk ʃən /

noun

1. a fixed or firm belief.

   No clever argument, no persuasive fact or theory could make a dent in his conviction in the rightness of his position.

2. the act of convicting someone, as in a court of law; a declaration that a person is guilty of an offense.

3. the state of being convicted.

4. the act of convincing a person by argument or evidence.

5. the state of being convinced.

   Antonyms:

   uncertainty, doubt

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conviction British  

/ kənˈvɪkʃən /

noun

1. the state or appearance of being convinced

2. a fixed or firmly held belief, opinion, etc

3. the act of convincing

4. the act or an instance of convicting or the state of being convicted

5. to be convincing

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conviction Idioms  

1. see courage of one's convictions.

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Related Words

See belief.

Other Word Forms

• convictional adjective
• nonconviction noun
• preconviction noun
• proconviction adjective
• reconviction noun

Etymology

Origin of conviction

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Late Latin convictiōn-, stem of convictiō “proof (of guilt)” from convict(us) “convinced, conquered” (past participle of convincere; convince ) + -iō -ion ( def. )

Example Sentences

He walked away with a healed ankle and a conviction: AI was set to become not just a novel technology but a new paradigm.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ozempic revealed that a belief once thought broadly accepted had been held together more by pressure than by conviction, only to unravel once honesty felt safer.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Supreme Court last month rejected his appeal against his conviction.

From Barron's

“I have complete belief, conviction. We will play great defense here,” the coach said in November 2023.

From Los Angeles Times

Supporters of the verdict argued that it was an important safeguard against wrongful convictions.

From BBC

Related Words

• confidence
• faith
• feeling
• principle
• sentiment
• view