Home Dictionary Cconvict

convict

convict

Transitive VerbNoun

pl: convictspast: convictedpp: convicteding: convicting

As a noun, the term carries a heavy social stigma and is often used in legal or correctional contexts to describe a person's status relative to the state. It focuses on the legal fact of guilt rather than the specific nature of the crime.

As a verb, the word describes the formal legal process of establishing guilt. It is distinct from "sentence," which refers to the punishment assigned after the act of convicting has occurred.

Meanings

Transitive Verbconvict

[~ someone (of something)]

To officially declare someone to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge.

The jury took only two hours to convict the defendant of fraud.

Nounconvict

A person who has been found guilty of a crime and is currently serving a sentence in a prison.

The prison guards kept a close watch on every convict in the yard.

Last Updated: July 6, 2026•Report an Error