convict

[kənˈvɪkt]

convict Definition

• 1. a person found guilty of a criminal offense and serving a sentence of imprisonment
• 2. 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

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

• criminal
• prisoner
• offender
• culprit
• inmate

Antonyms for convict

• acquit
• exonerate

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.