Word

conviction

noun C1

/kənˈvɪkʃən/

Meanings

noun

a strong, firmly held belief or principle

noun

the act of proving in court that someone is guilty, or the official decision that someone is guilty

Definition

A conviction is a strong belief or the legal judgment that someone is guilty of a crime.

A conviction can mean a firmly held belief or opinion that guides someone’s choices and actions. It can also refer to a court decision that officially declares someone guilty of a criminal offense. In everyday writing and conversation, the meaning is usually clear from the context. The word often implies certainty and commitment rather than a casual preference.

Examples

I spoke with conviction because I had reviewed the evidence and anticipated the counterarguments.
Her conviction that education should be accessible shaped the way she designed the program.
They challenged the conviction on procedural grounds, arguing that key testimony had been mishandled.
With quiet conviction, he refused to take credit for work he had not done.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse conviction (a strong belief or a guilty verdict) with convincing (persuasive) and use the wrong word in context.