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convict

Other forms: convicted; convicts; convicting

A convict is a person who has been found guilty — convicted — of a crime and is serving a sentence in prison.

When you convict (accent on the second syllable) someone of a crime, you find them guilty. The person is then a convict (accent on the first syllable). When the person is released from jail, he's an ex-con, that is, he's not a convict any more.

Definitions of convict
  1. verb
    find or declare guilty
    “The man was convicted of fraud and sentenced”
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    Antonyms:
    acquit, assoil, clear, discharge, exculpate, exonerate
    pronounce not guilty of criminal charges
    types:
    reconvict
    convict anew
    type of:
    judge, label, pronounce
    pronounce judgment on
Definitions of convict
  1. noun
    a person who has been convicted of a criminal offense
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    types:
    first offender
    someone convicted for the first time
    sex offender
    someone who has been convicted of a sex crime
    type of:
    offender, wrongdoer
    a person who transgresses moral or civil law
  2. noun
    a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
    synonyms: con, inmate, yard bird, yardbird
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    types:
    lifer
    a prisoner serving a term of life imprisonment
    trusty
    a convict who is considered trustworthy and granted special privileges
    type of:
    captive, prisoner
    a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘convict'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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