conviction
gb/kənvˈɪkʃən/ us/kənvˈɪkʃən/
B2
English
~ 2900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
event
1
formal legal finding of guilt
When a court says that a person is guilty of a crime.
Usage pattern:
a conviction for [crime]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'conviction' with 'convince'; 'conviction' in this sense is a legal decision, not the act of persuading someone.
Synonyms
guilty verdict (Specifically refers to the jury or judge's decision, without implying the entire legal process.)
Antonyms
acquittal (The legal decision that someone is not guilty of a crime.)
Collocations
criminal conviction
|conviction for fraud
|wrongful conviction
|secure a conviction
|appeal a conviction
Themes
law
|crime
|justice
|politics
Examples
- The jury returned a conviction for armed robbery.
- His conviction was overturned after new evidence emerged.
- She has a prior conviction for theft.
- The prosecutor worked hard to secure a conviction.
- He is appealing his conviction in the high court.
Learner examples
- The man has a conviction for stealing.
- She got a conviction for driving too fast.
- He is trying to fight his conviction.
- The court gave him a conviction for fraud.
Noun
B2
entity
2
strong personal belief
A feeling of being sure that something is true or right.
Usage pattern:
[someone] has a conviction that [clause]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this meaning with the legal sense; here it refers to beliefs, not court decisions.
Synonyms
belief (A general term; may be weaker or less certain than 'conviction'.)
Antonyms
doubt (Lack of certainty or confidence in an idea or belief.)
Collocations
moral conviction
|religious conviction
|deep conviction
|hold a conviction
|speak with conviction
Themes
emotions
|philosophy
|ethics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She spoke with great conviction about the need for change.
- His convictions drive his work in human rights.
- Despite criticism, he held to his convictions.
- They acted out of moral conviction.
- Her religious convictions influence her daily life.
Learner examples
- I have a strong conviction that we can win.
- She speaks with conviction about her ideas.
- He acts from his convictions.
- They have different convictions about the law.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conviction
IPA
GB/kənvˈɪkʃən/
US/kənvˈɪkʃən/
Syllables & stress
con - vic - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (vic)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: conviction
- Plural: conviction, convictions
Word family
Forms
convictions
noun
Core family
Related words
convincingly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unconvincing
adjective B2
unconvinced
adjective
Expressions
moral conviction
1/mˈɔɹəl kənvˈɪkʃən/
fixed phrase
firm belief about morality
A strong feeling about what is right and wrong.
Examples
- Her moral convictions stopped her from lying.
- He acted out of moral conviction, even when it was risky.
religious conviction
1/ɹɪlˈɪd͡ʒəs kənvˈɪkʃən/
fixed phrase
firm belief in religion or faith principles
A strong belief in the ideas of a religion.
Examples
- His religious convictions guide his daily actions.
- They refused the order because of their religious convictions.
speak with conviction
1/spˈik wˈɪθ kənvˈɪkʃən/
fixed phrase
speak confidently and with belief
To talk in a way that shows you believe strongly in what you are saying.
Examples
- The leader spoke with conviction about the future of the country.
- If you speak with conviction, people are more likely to believe you.