con ‧ vic ‧ tion W3 /kənˈvɪkʃ ə n/ BrE AmE noun
1 . [countable] a very strong belief or opinion
religious/political etc convictions
a woman of strong political convictions
deep/strong conviction
The Dotens have a deep conviction that marriage is for life.
conviction that
The students possess the conviction that they can make a difference to their community.
2 . [uncountable] the feeling of being sure about something and having no doubts
with/without conviction
He was able to say with conviction that he had changed.
‘No,’ she said, without conviction.
It was a reasonable explanation, but his voice lacked conviction.
It took her so much effort to speak that what she said carried great conviction (=showed she felt sure of what she said) .
3 . [uncountable and countable] a decision in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime, or the process of proving that someone is guilty OPP acquittal :
They had no previous convictions.
Applicants are checked for criminal convictions.
conviction for
This was her third conviction for theft.
the trial and conviction of Jimmy Malone
⇨ have the courage of your convictions at ↑ courage (2)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meaning 3)
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + conviction
▪ a criminal conviction
Jason already had a criminal conviction for theft.
▪ a murder/manslaughter/fraud etc conviction
He lost his job following a drugs conviction.
▪ a previous/prior conviction (=a crime someone was found guilty of in the past)
The man had five previous convictions for being drunk and disorderly.
▪ a wrongful conviction (=a guilty verdict that was wrong)
The trial led to the men's wrongful conviction.
■ verbs
▪ have a conviction for something
You must declare whether you have any convictions.
▪ lead to a conviction
They offered a reward for information leading to the conviction of the killer.
▪ obtain/secure a conviction (=make someone be found guilty)
The prosecution had obtained a conviction based on false evidence.
▪ appeal against conviction (=ask a court of law to change it)
The men intend to appeal against their convictions.
▪ quash/overturn a conviction (=officially say that it was wrong)
The Court of Appeal quashed their convictions.
▪ uphold a conviction (=officially say that it was right)
The conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal.