convict

prisoner / to find guilty

NounTransitive Verb

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

Noun

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

"The former convict struggled to find employment after his release."

Transitive Verb

[~ 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."

Last Updated: June 14, 2026•Report an Error