convict

1 of 3

noun

con·​vict ˈkän-ˌvikt How to pronounce convict (audio)
1
: a person convicted of and under sentence for a crime
2
: a person serving a usually long prison sentence

convict

2 of 3

verb

con·​vict kən-ˈvikt How to pronounce convict (audio)
convicted; convicting; convicts

transitive verb

1
: to find or prove to be guilty
The jury convicted them of fraud.
2
: to convince of error or sinfulness

intransitive verb

: to find a defendant guilty
Remarkably, two of the jurors boldly dug in their heels and pressed to convict.John Grisham

convict

3 of 3

adjective

con·​vict kən-ˈvikt How to pronounce convict (audio)
archaic
: having been convicted

Examples of convict in a Sentence

Noun a warning that the three escaped convicts were armed and dangerous Verb There is sufficient evidence to convict. He was convicted in federal court. The jury convicted them on three counts of fraud. Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
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.
Noun
Tim Matheson played Griff King, a former convict who earns a second chance working on Ponderosa during the show’s final season. Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 29 June 2025 Directed by Stoller and starring Ferrell, the comedy, which is currently filming, follows a young convict fresh out of prison (Zac Efron) who takes a reality TV courtroom hostage blaming the megalomaniac TV judge (Ferrell) for a past ruling that the convict feels ruined his life. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 24 June 2025
Verb
The June 22, 2024 incident outside the Montgomery Inn Boathouse already has led to Raleigh’s son, Kyle, being convicted of assault charges. Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 July 2025 The facilities are where people charged with a crime await trial and people convicted of minor offenses serve short sentences. Jimmy Jenkins, AZCentral.com, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for convict

Word History

Etymology

Verb, Noun, and Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French convicter, from Latin convictus, past participle of convincere to refute, convict

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of convict was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Convict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convict. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

convict

1 of 2 verb
con·​vict kən-ˈvikt How to pronounce convict (audio)
: to find or prove guilty

convict

2 of 2 noun
con·​vict ˈkän-ˌvikt How to pronounce convict (audio)
: a person serving a prison sentence

Legal Definition

convict

1 of 2 transitive verb
con·​vict kən-ˈvikt How to pronounce convict (audio)
: to find guilty of a criminal offense
was convicted of fraud
compare acquit

convict

2 of 2 noun
con·​vict ˈkän-ˌvikt How to pronounce convict (audio)
: a person convicted of and serving a sentence for a crime
Etymology

Transitive verb

Latin convictus past participle of convincere to find guilty, prove, from com- with, together + vincer to conquer

More from Merriam-Webster on convict

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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