con·vict
ˈkän-ˌvikt 
1
: a person convicted of and under sentence for a crime
2
: a person serving a usually long prison sentence
convicted; convicting; convicts
1
: to find or prove to be guilty
The jury convicted them of fraud.
2
: to convince of error or sinfulness
: to find a defendant guilty
Remarkably, two of the jurors boldly dug in their heels and pressed to convict.—
John Grisham
John GrishamExamples 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
Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
The two had information that a pair of ex-convicts, just out of the state prison at Waupun, were killing deer illegally and selling the meat.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
John Annese, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
After a trial that became tabloid fodder due to her royal connections, she was convicted and sentenced to life in prison (and later released in 2019).
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for convict
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Noun
For Prisoner, Rahim plays treacherous convict Tibor Stone, whose life is put in the hands of a young, principled prison officer Amber (Izuka Hoyle).
—Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026
The two had information that a pair of ex-convicts, just out of the state prison at Waupun, were killing deer illegally and selling the meat.
—Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Earlier in the day, jurors asked to see a video compilation showing the deadly March 25, 2024 shooting, and asked for a readback of the elements needed to convict Rivera on the top charges against him.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
After a trial that became tabloid fodder due to her royal connections, she was convicted and sentenced to life in prison (and later released in 2019).
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for convict
Cite this Entry
“Convict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/convict. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
convict
1 of 2 verb
con·vict
kən-ˈvikt
: to find or prove guilty
convict
2 of 2 noun
con·vict
ˈkän-ˌvikt
: a person serving a prison sentence
Legal Definition
convict
2 of 2 noun
con·vict
ˈkän-ˌvikt
: 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
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