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Conviction: meaning, definitions and examples

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conviction

 

[ kənˈvɪkʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal

A formal declaration by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is guilty of a criminal offense.

Synonyms

guilt, judgment, sentence.

Examples of usage

  • He had a previous conviction for a similar offense.
  • She was appealing against her conviction for murder.
Context #2 | Noun

belief

A firmly held belief or opinion.

Synonyms

belief, certainty, faith.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
conviction

Used when someone is strongly persuaded or firmly believes in a particular idea, often with a connotation of moral or ethical grounding.

  • She spoke with conviction about the need for social equality
  • His conviction in his principles was unshakeable
belief

A general term for acceptance that something exists or is true, especially without proof. It can be used in both minor and significant matters.

  • She has a strong belief in God
  • Their belief in hard work brought them success
certainty

Appropriate when expressing a high level of confidence about something being true or guaranteed, often used in factual or assured statements.

  • There is certainty that the sun will rise tomorrow
  • He spoke with certainty about the results of the experiment
faith

Often related to a strong religious or spiritual trust, or a deep confidence in something or someone without requiring evidence.

  • Her faith in humanity was unshaken
  • They placed their faith in their leader's decisions

Examples of usage

  • His conviction that the death was no accident never wavered.
  • She spoke with great conviction about the need for change.
Context #3 | Noun

strong belief

The quality of showing that one is firmly convinced of what one believes or says.

Synonyms

assurance, determination, persuasion.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
conviction

Used when describing a strong belief or certainty, often in a moral or ethical context, as well as a legal context where a person is found guilty.

  • Her conviction to fight for human rights was unwavering
  • The court's conviction of the criminal brought relief to the victims
determination

Best for expressing a firm decision or resolved purpose, often used to describe someone's focus and drive to achieve a goal.

  • Her determination to finish the marathon was inspiring
  • Despite many obstacles, his determination never wavered
persuasion

Suitable when talking about the act of convincing someone to do or believe something, generally in debate, marketing, or influence contexts.

  • His persuasive arguments won over the entire committee
  • The advertisement was designed with strong persuasion tactics to boost sales
assurance

Appropriate when giving someone confidence or certainty about a situation, often used in customer service, formal agreements, or support contexts.

  • The manager's assurance that the problem would be fixed calmed the angry customer
  • He gave his assurance that the project would be completed on time

Examples of usage

  • He argued with conviction and passion.
  • Her conviction shone through in her speech.

Translations

Translations of the word "conviction" in other languages:

🇵🇹 convicção

🇮🇳 आस्था

🇩🇪 Überzeugung

🇮🇩 keyakinan

🇺🇦 переконання

🇵🇱 przekonanie

🇯🇵 確信 (kakushin)

🇫🇷 conviction

🇪🇸 convicción

🇹🇷 inanç

🇰🇷 확신 (hwaksin)

🇸🇦 قناعة

🇨🇿 přesvědčení

🇸🇰 presvedčenie

🇨🇳 信念 (xìnniàn)

🇸🇮 prepričanje

🇮🇸 sannfæring

🇰🇿 сенім

🇬🇪 რწმენა

🇦🇿 inanc

🇲🇽 convicción

Etymology

The word 'conviction' originated from the Latin word 'convictio' which means 'proof, refutation'. Over time, its meaning evolved to represent a strong belief or the act of being found guilty in a court of law. The concept of conviction has been integral to legal systems around the world for centuries, serving as a cornerstone of justice and accountability.

See also: convict, convictions, convicts.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,532, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.