conviction
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
A firmly held belief or a formal declaration by a court that someone is guilty of a crime.
The act of convincing someone of error or the state of being convinced; also refers to the quality of showing that one is firmly convinced, suggesting sincerity and certainty.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has two primary meanings: 1) The legal context of being found guilty. 2) The personal context of a strong belief. The 'belief' sense is often preceded by 'with' (e.g., 'speak with conviction') and implies emotional and intellectual certainty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both use the two primary senses equally.
Connotations
Identical; carries strong connotations of certainty, sincerity, and (in the legal sense) finality.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have a conviction that + clausespeak with convictionconviction for (a crime)be under the conviction that + clauseconviction + of + noun (e.g., conviction of guilt)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “carry conviction (to be convincing)”
- “have the courage of one's convictions”
- “a conviction politician”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May be used in leadership contexts (e.g., 'He led the merger with great conviction').
Academic
Common in philosophy, law, and social sciences discussing beliefs, ethics, or legal outcomes.
Everyday
Frequent, especially regarding personal beliefs or discussing news about crime.
Technical
Core term in legal contexts (criminal law).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (The verb is 'convict' /kənˈvɪkt/ or 'convince')
American English
- (The verb is 'convict' /kənˈvɪkt/ or 'convince')
adverb
British English
- convictionally (extremely rare)
American English
- (No common adverb derived directly from 'conviction'; use 'convincingly')
adjective
British English
- convictional (rare)
- convictionless (rare)
American English
- conviction-style (as in 'conviction politician')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a strong conviction that it will rain.
- The man had a conviction for theft.
- He spoke with great conviction about his plans.
- Her previous conviction made it hard to find a job.
- His political convictions prevented him from supporting the policy.
- The appeal court overturned the conviction due to new evidence.
- Her argument was delivered with such conviction that it swayed the entire committee.
- The safety of the conviction was called into question by the human rights organisation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'CONVICT' in prison - a CONVICTion is what put him there. For the belief sense, think: 'I am CONVINCed with strong CONVICTION.'
Conceptual Metaphor
CONVICTION IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT ONE HOLDS (hold a conviction), CONVICTION IS STRENGTH (strong/deep conviction), BEING CONVINCED IS BEING CAPTURED (from Latin 'convincere' - to overcome, prove wrong).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'убеждение' (persuasion/process). 'Conviction' is the *state/result* of being convinced. 'Убеждённость' is closer.
- In legal contexts, it is strictly 'осуждение' or 'признание виновным', not 'обвинение' (which is 'charge' or 'accusation').
Common Mistakes
- Using it to mean 'accusation' (e.g., *He got a conviction for murder* is correct only *after* a guilty verdict; use 'charge' before).
- Using 'conviction' as a countable noun for a single act of persuading someone (*I had a conviction with him* is wrong).
Practice
Quiz
In a legal context, what is the direct antonym of 'conviction'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'conviction' is a much stronger, more deeply held form of belief, often resistant to change and held with emotional certainty. A 'belief' can be more casual or unexamined.
No, that process is 'persuasion'. 'Conviction' refers to the *state* of being convinced or the firmly held belief itself.
No. In the legal sense, it has a negative connotation (guilt). In the personal belief sense, it is neutral or positive, associated with sincerity and strength of character.
It is an idiom meaning 'to be convincing or persuasive'. E.g., 'His alibi did not carry conviction with the jury.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Crime and Justice
B1 · 46 words · Vocabulary for law, crime and the justice system.
Law and Regulation
C1 · 46 words · Legal language and regulatory frameworks.