a person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment, declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law

a hard-bitten convict, a convict mentality, a jailhouse lawyer/convict

convict someone of something, a convict colony, a convict record

Formal and Informal Expressions of convict

In different contexts, you can replace 'convict' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'offender, culprit' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'crook, jailbird' is a commonplace synonym.

convict: Explore its Definition & Usage

convict Definition

1a person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment
2declare (someone) to be guilty of a criminal offense by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law

Using convict: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "convict" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
Example
The jury convicted him on all charges.
Example
She is a convict serving time for drug trafficking.
Example
The police were able to convict the thief with DNA evidence.

convict Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for convict

Antonyms for convict

Idioms Using convict

a hard-bitten convict
a tough, experienced criminal who has spent a long time in prison
Example
He looked like a hard-bitten convict, with tattoos covering his arms and scars on his face.
a convict mentality
a mindset characterized by a belief that one is always being persecuted or unfairly treated
Example
He has a convict mentality and always thinks that people are out to get him.
a jailhouse lawyer/convict
a prisoner who has become knowledgeable about the law and helps other prisoners with legal issues
Example
He became a jailhouse lawyer after spending years in prison and helped many other convicts with their cases.

Phrases with convict

convict someone of something
to declare someone guilty of a crime
Example
The court convicted him of theft.
a convict colony
a place where convicts are sent to serve their sentences
Example
Australia was originally established as a convict colony.
a convict record
an official record of a person's criminal convictions
Example
His convict record showed that he had been in and out of jail for most of his life.

Origins of convict

from Latin 'convictus', meaning 'proved, convicted'

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Summary: convict in Brief

The term 'convict' [kənˈvɪkt] refers to a person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment. It can also mean to declare someone guilty of a crime. The term extends into phrases like 'convict someone of something,' and idioms like 'a hard-bitten convict,' denoting a tough, experienced criminal, and 'a convict mentality,' referring to a mindset characterized by a belief that one is always being persecuted or unfairly treated.