convict
(verb) Declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge. (noun) A person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment.
As a verb, it's the official legal declaration of guilt. As a noun, it refers to a person serving time in prison.
Word relationships
- condemn: To condemn is to express strong disapproval, or to sentence someone to a particular punishment (like death), but 'convict' specifically means to find guilty of a crime.
- find guilty: A more direct and less formal way of saying 'convict'.
- acquit: To free someone from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty.
- exonerate: To officially clear someone of blame or wrongdoing, often after a conviction.
Commonly confused with
- accuse: To 'accuse' is to charge someone with an offense. To 'convict' is to find them guilty after a legal process.
Word family
- conviction (noun): a formal declaration by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge that someone is guilty of a criminal offense; a strong belief.
Collocations
- convict of a crime
- convicted felon
- convict population
Example sentences
- "The jury took only a few hours to convict the suspect of armed robbery, based on overwhelming evidence." Describing the legal action of finding guilt.
- "After serving ten years, the former convict was released on parole, hoping for a fresh start." Referring to a person in prison.
Memory hook
To 'CONVICT' is to 'CON'clude someone is 'VICT'im of their own crime. CONclude VICTim
When not to use
Do not use 'convict' (verb) for finding someone 'responsible' in a civil case; use 'find liable'. Also, do not use 'convict' (noun) for someone merely arrested or charged, but not yet found guilty.
Fun facts
- The noun form 'convict' (stress on the first syllable) refers to a person, while the verb form 'convict' (stress on the second syllable) refers to the act of finding guilty.
- A 'wrongful conviction' occurs when an innocent person is found guilty of a crime.
Related words
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