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
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, in 2016, according to court papers and Lopez’s attorney, DHS changed its position, deemed him a legal resident but not a citizen and initiated removal proceedings because of his drug conviction. Albinson Linares, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2025 After being coerced into committing murder against a rival polygamist, Rena miraculously escapes conviction, yet her fear for her life and her daughter’s safety becomes palpable. Denise Petski, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025 Its latest moves only reinforce the company’s conviction and purpose in that direction. Jason Andersen, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 Of the 370 people arrested, 205 had significant criminal convictions or charges, ICE Boston reported. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for conviction

Word History

Etymology

see convict entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of conviction was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Conviction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conviction. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

conviction

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on conviction

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