convict
Noun:
- A person who has been found guilty of a crime by a court of law: A "convict" is an individual who has been formally declared guilty of a criminal offense following a legal trial.
- A person serving a prison sentence: This term specifically refers to someone who is currently imprisoned as a result of that conviction.
Verb:
- To find or declare (someone) guilty of a criminal offense in a court of law: The act of a judge or jury officially determining that a person is guilty of the crime with which they have been charged.
Noun:
- The escaped convict was captured by police after three days.
- The program aims to help former convicts reintegrate into society after their release.
Verb (typically used as "convict someone of something"):
- The jury took only two hours to convict the defendant of murder.
- He was convicted on three counts of fraud and sentenced to ten years in prison.
Legal Formality: The verb "convict" is a formal legal term. The standard construction is "to convict [a person] of [a crime]." It implies a final, official judgment.
- The evidence was overwhelming, leading the court to convict her of embezzlement.
Figurative Use (Less Common): Occasionally used to mean to convince someone of their error or fault, though this is now rare.
- His conscience convicted him of his selfish actions.
Conviction (n): 1. The act of finding a person guilty of a crime. 2. A firmly held belief or opinion.
- His conviction for armed robbery carried a heavy sentence.
- She spoke with great conviction about human rights.
Convictism (n, historical): A term related to the historical practice of transporting convicts, especially to penal colonies like Australia.
- Noun (Person): Felon, offender, criminal, inmate, prisoner.
- Verb (Action): Find guilty, pronounce guilty, condemn.
- Verb: Acquit, exonerate, absolve, clear.
"Ex-convict" or "Former convict": A person who has been released after serving a prison sentence.
- As an ex-convict, he faced significant challenges finding employment.
"To be convicted of": The passive voice construction is very common when describing the legal status of a person.
- She was convicted of perjury, which damaged her credibility.
- a person who has been convicted of a criminal offense
- a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
- find or declare guilty
- The man was convicted of fraud and sentenced