conviction

/kənˈvɪkʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /kənˈvɪkʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /kən-ˈvik-shən/ (ame, mw)

conviction — noun

  • convictionsingular
  • convictionsplural

1. the official outcome of a criminal trial when a judge or jury decides that the a

1.名詞B2
釋義

the official outcome of a criminal trial when a judge or jury decides that the accused person is guilty of the offence they were charged with

例句

The court upheld her conviction for fraud after the appeal was rejected.

conviction + for + crime name

A criminal conviction can make it much harder to find stable employment.

countable use: a criminal conviction

同義詞
  • guilty verdict

    specifically the jury's decision, whereas 'conviction' can also refer to the legal outcome that follows

  • condemnation

    more formal and less common; can also carry moral judgement, whereas 'conviction' is strictly legal

反義詞
  • acquittal

    the legal finding that someone is not guilty

文法句型

conviction + for + crime

conviction + of + accused person

用法筆記

Commonly modified by 'previous' or 'criminal' to describe a person's legal record. Frequently followed by 'for' naming the crime.

常見錯誤

❌He got a conviction of murder.
✅He got a conviction for murder.
💡the crime follows 'for', not 'of'.
❌The conviction means he is crime.
✅The conviction means he has a criminal record.
💡'conviction' is a legal finding, not a synonym for 'crime' itself.

2. a very firm opinion or belief about what is right, true, or important — for exam

2.名詞B2
釋義

a very firm opinion or belief about what is right, true, or important — for example, a person's political views, moral principles, or religious faith that guide their decisions and actions

例句

Eliska holds strong political convictions about social justice and equality.

strong + convictions + about + topic

The senator never compromised her moral convictions during the debate.

moral convictions — modified by moral/political/religious

同義詞
  • belief

    more general; a conviction is a belief held with exceptional firmness and principle

  • principle

    a moral rule or standard, whereas a conviction is a specific belief formed from one's principles

  • faith

    usually religious; conviction can be religious or non-religious

反義詞
  • doubt

    the absence of firm belief

文法句型

conviction + that-clause

conviction + about + topic

用法筆記

Usually plural (convictions) when referring to a person's set of principles. The singular 'conviction' in this sense often appears with 'deep' or 'firm' modifiers.

常見錯誤

❌My conviction is that dogs are better than cats.' (when meaning a casual opinion)
✅My conviction is that education is a basic human right.
💡'conviction' implies a deeply held, principled belief, not a casual preference.
❌She has strong conviction in God.
✅She has strong religious convictions.' or 'She holds a deep conviction that God exists.
💡this sense is countable and usually takes a that-clause or about-phrase.

3. the quality of being completely certain that something is true or right, shown t

3.名詞B2
釋義

the quality of being completely certain that something is true or right, shown through the way you speak or act; a feeling of total sureness

例句

Yasmin spoke with such quiet conviction that nobody doubted her story.

with + conviction (adverbial use)

The singer performed each song with deep conviction, moving the audience.

同義詞
  • certainty

    very close in meaning; 'certainty' is more about the state of being sure, while 'conviction' adds the nuance of confident expression

  • confidence

    broader in meaning; confidence can be in one's own abilities, whereas conviction is about the truth of a matter

  • assurance

    suggests a calm, controlled confidence; conviction can be more passionate

反義詞

文法句型

with conviction

conviction + that-clause

用法筆記

This sense is uncountable and typically appears in the phrase 'with conviction' or 'lack conviction'. It describes the manner of speaking or acting, not a specific opinion — distinguish from sense 2 (a belief is held; certainty is expressed).

常見錯誤

❌He spoke with many convictions.
✅He spoke with conviction.
💡this sense is uncountable; do not use the plural form.
❌I have a conviction that it will rain.
✅I have a conviction that climate change is real.
💡when followed by a that-clause and referring to a belief, use sense 2, which is countable.