conviction

noun

con·​vic·​tion kən-ˈvik-shən 

1

: the act or process of finding a person guilty of a crime especially in a court of law

2

a

: a strong persuasion or belief

b

: the state of being convinced

3

a

: the act of convincing a person of error or of compelling the admission of a truth

b

: the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth

Synonyms

• assurance
• assuredness
• certainty
• certitude
• cocksureness
• confidence
• doubtlessness
• face
• positiveness
• satisfaction
• sureness
• surety

Choose the Right Synonym for conviction

certainty, certitude, conviction mean a state of being free from doubt.

certainty and certitude are very close; certainty may stress the existence of objective proof

claims that cannot be confirmed with scientific certainty

, while certitude may emphasize a faith in something not needing or not capable of proof.

believes with certitude in an afterlife

conviction applies especially to belief strongly held by an individual.

holds firm convictions on every issue

opinion, view, belief, conviction, persuasion, sentiment mean a judgment one holds as true.

opinion implies a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute.

each expert seemed to have a different opinion

view suggests a subjective opinion.

very assertive in stating his views

belief implies often deliberate acceptance and intellectual assent.

a firm belief in her party's platform

conviction applies to a firmly and seriously held belief.

the conviction that animal life is as sacred as human

persuasion suggests a belief grounded on assurance (as by evidence) of its truth.

was of the persuasion that everything changes

sentiment suggests a settled opinion reflective of one's feelings.

her feminist sentiments are well-known

Examples of conviction in a Sentence

… a perfect example, I told Bobby, … why Realtors have to be prepared to work holidays. "Well, yeah," he said, utterly without conviction. —Jane Smiley, Good Faith, 2003

It was his conviction that if the words in the story were blurred because of the author's insensitivity, carelessness, or sentimentality, then the story suffered from a tremendous handicap. —Raymond Carver, The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters, 1987

She spoke in … the voice which people often used to express their deepest convictions … —Paula Fox, A Servant's Tale, 1984

Certainly the basis of our democracy is the conviction of the worth of the individual. —Robert Penn Warren, Democracy and Poetry, (1975) 1976

She hopes to avoid conviction.

In light of the evidence, a conviction seems certain.

He has three prior drunk-driving convictions.

Convictions for shoplifting have made it difficult for her to get a job.

a person of deep convictions

They share my strong conviction that the policy is misguided.

Recent Examples on the Web

This is the first part of a two-part series looking at the 1991 murder of Sabrina Lynn Underwood in Fulton County and the subsequent cold-case investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of Rick Headley. —Daniel McFadin, arkansasonline.com, 2 Jan. 2025

The Trump administration will have to drive a hard bargain that will require a long-term commitment and a conviction that preventing Russia from winning on Moscow’s terms will be of real value to the United States. —Alina Polyakova, Foreign Affairs, 31 Dec. 2024

The article included other remarks related to Carter’s faith − such as the importance of the separation of church and state, a conviction born of Carter’s Southern Baptist upbringing − but the adultery comment opened a rift with Carter’s kin in Christ. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024

Another big talker was Gelt’s look into Sci-Fi World, the museum-ish operation that was slated to open in the former Sears building in Santa Monica despite the child-pornography conviction of one of its organizers and questions about who was running the place and what exactly was on view to see. —Craig Nakano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see convict entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing conviction

• pre-conviction

Kids Definition

conviction

noun

con·​vic·​tion kən-ˈvik-shən 

1

: the act of convicting : the state of being convicted

2

a

: a strong belief or opinion

has deep convictions

b

: the state of mind of a person who is sure that what he or she believes or says is true

spoke with conviction

Legal Definition

conviction

noun

con·​vic·​tion

1

: the act or process of convicting

also : the final judgment entered after a finding of guilt

a prior conviction of murder

would not overturn the conviction

compare acquittal

Note: Jurisdictions differ as to what constitutes conviction for various statutes (as habitual offender statutes). Conviction is rarely applied to civil cases.

2

: guilt

the judge will enter a judgment of conviction

—W. R. LaFave and J. H. Israel