convict

Everyday

1. To convict someone is for a court to decide officially that they are guilty of a crime. tree →
2. A convict is a person who has been found guilty and sent to prison. tree →
3. In history, convicts were prisoners sent to work far away, for example to Australia. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons in Australia and the UK, pupils learn that convicts were transported from Britain to Australia. In news and stories, courts convict criminals; a convict escapes from prison. Phrases: convicted of, escaped convict.

Examples

• The court convicted him of theft. tree →
• The escaped convict was caught in the woods. tree →
• Thousands of convicts were sent to Australia long ago. tree →
• She was convicted of dangerous driving. tree →
• Convicts built many of the early roads. tree →
• You cannot be convicted without evidence. tree →

Note

Stress changes the meaning: CON-vict (noun, the person), con-VICT (verb). Noun «conviction» also means a strong belief. «Convicted of» a crime, not «for».