conviction
kuhn-VIHK-shuhn
Conviction (noun) means a strong, firmly held belief. Example: “It was their shared conviction that every child deserves a good education.”
noun
1
A strong, firmly held belief.
"It was their shared conviction that every child deserves a good education."
"She spoke with real conviction about the need for change."
"It is his deep conviction that hard work always pays off."
2
A formal declaration in court that someone is guilty of a crime.
"The lawyer planned to appeal against the conviction straight away."
"A conviction for fraud can make it hard to find work."
"His conviction for theft ruined his career."
How to use conviction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a strongly held belief, or the legal result of being found guilty.
Common pairings
speak with conviction
a criminal conviction
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like conviction.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- convictions
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was their shared _____ that every child deserves a good education.
Etymology
Came into English via late Middle English conviction, from Anglo-Norman conviction, from Latin convictiō, from convictus, the past participle of convincō ("to convict"). It is equivalent to convict + -ion.
Synonyms
View more →
belief
certainty
assurance
confidence
persuasion
guilty verdict
sentence
attaintment
condemnation
judgement
proscription
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for conviction
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for conviction →
Frequently asked questions
What does “conviction” mean?
The word “conviction” means a strong, firmly held belief. In plain terms, either a strongly held belief, or the legal result of being found guilty.
How do you pronounce “conviction”?
“Conviction” is pronounced kuhn-VIHK-shuhn (/kənˈvɪkʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “conviction” in a sentence?
Here is “conviction” used in a sentence: “She spoke with real conviction about the need for change.”
What is another word for “conviction”?
Words with a similar meaning to “conviction” include attaintment, condemnation, judgement and proscription.
What is the opposite of “conviction”?
The opposite of “conviction” — its antonyms — is acquittal.
What part of speech is “conviction”?
“Conviction” is a noun.
Is “conviction” a common word?
“Conviction” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “conviction” have?
“Conviction” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strong, firmly held belief.
What is the difference between conviction and belief?
A belief is something you accept as true, while a conviction is a belief held especially firmly and strongly. Calling something a conviction stresses the depth and certainty behind it.
What is the difference between a conviction and a sentence in law?
A conviction is the court's formal declaration that a person is guilty of a crime. The sentence is the punishment, such as a fine or imprisonment, that is decided afterward once someone has been convicted.
What is the difference between a conviction and an acquittal?
A conviction is a formal finding that a person is guilty of a crime, while an acquittal is a decision that clears them, finding them not guilty. The two are opposite outcomes of a criminal case.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include conviction:
