convict

/'kɔnvikt/
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convict

The jury finds the defendant guilty, making him a convict.

Definition
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
Usage Examples
  • 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.
Advanced Usage
  • 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.
Variants and Related Words
  • 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.

Synonyms
  • Noun (Person): Felon, offender, criminal, inmate, prisoner.
  • Verb (Action): Find guilty, pronounce guilty, condemn.
Antonyms
  • Verb: Acquit, exonerate, absolve, clear.
Related Phrases
  • "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.
convict

The jury finds the defendant guilty, making him a convict.

Noun
  1. a person who has been convicted of a criminal offense
  2. a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
Verb
  1. find or declare guilty
    • The man was convicted of fraud and sentenced