ENGLISH
REFERENCE

convict

n. countable
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ˈkɑnvɪkt// con·vict

n. a person who has been found guilty of a crime and is serving a sentence in prison.

n. a person found guilty of a criminal offence and serving a sentence of imprisonment. Often carries a connotation of long-term incarceration.


SIMPLE

The convict escaped from the prison last night.

CONTEXTUAL

After the trial ended, the convict was transported to a high-security facility to begin his ten-year sentence.

COMPLEX

The rehabilitation program aims to provide convicts with marketable skills to reduce the likelihood of reoffending once they are eventually released back into society.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English convicten, from Anglo-Norman convicter, from Latin convictus, the past participle of convincō (“to convict”). Doublet of convince. Displaced native Old English forwyrċan (“to convict, condemn”).

Usage

Commonly used in legal and journalistic contexts; the term 'prisoner' is often preferred in modern social science to avoid dehumanisation.

Pitfall

The judge will convict him to ten years.The judge will sentence him to ten years.Learners confuse the noun/verb 'convict' (finding someone guilty) with the verb 'sentence' (assigning the punishment).

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