Definition

1. Verb:
   • To convict (someone) again; to find or declare guilty of a crime for a second or subsequent time, typically after a previous conviction for a similar or different offense. The action involves a legal judgment in a court of law.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The court decided to reconvict the offender based on new, compelling evidence.
  • If he commits another crime after his release, the state will seek to reconvict him.
  • The prosecutor's goal was to reconvict the defendant for violating the terms of his parole.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• The term is used almost exclusively in legal and judicial contexts. It implies a prior conviction exists.
• It is a transitive verb and is often used in passive constructions (e.g., ).
• The focus is on the legal act of pronouncing guilt again, not merely on being arrested or charged again.

Variants and Related Words

• Reconviction (noun): The act or instance of reconvicting someone.
  • His reconviction led to a longer prison sentence.

Synonyms

• Re-convict (alternative spelling)
• Convict again

Antonyms

• Acquit: To declare not guilty.
• Exonerate: To absolve from blame or fault.

Word Formation and Structure

• The word is formed by the prefix re- (meaning "again") + the verb convict.
• This pattern is common in English for indicating repetition (e.g., , , ).

Verb

1. convict anew