conviction
Americannoun
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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.
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the act of convicting someone, as in a court of law; a declaration that a person is guilty of an offense.
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the state of being convicted.
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the act of convincing a person by argument or evidence.
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the state of being convinced.
- Antonyms:
- uncertainty, doubt
noun
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the state or appearance of being convinced
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a fixed or firmly held belief, opinion, etc
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the act of convincing
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the act or an instance of convicting or the state of being convicted
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to be convincing
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Anyone who maintains that thesis with high conviction would likely favor gold mining stocks at current prices.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
They repeatedly moved to dismiss the treason count, noting that conviction required a “breach of allegiance, and can be committed by him only who owes allegiance either perpetual or temporary.”
From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026
Mizuho publishes a list each month of its U.S. analysts’ highest conviction ideas.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
He wrote it would take "a lot of strength, passion, and conviction" to restore his country "back where it deserves to be".
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
“Teddy is a remarkable boy, and can’t be taken as a sample of other boys,” said Amy, in a tone of solemn conviction, which would have convulsed the ‘remarkable boy’ if he had heard it.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
