Which to use
“convict” and “convince” are a confusable English pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #13,693
- “convict” frequency rank
- #4,592
- “convince” frequency rank
- 18285
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | convict | convince |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | To find guilty, as a result of legal proceedings, or (informal) in a moral sense. | To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set convict and convince apart are highlighted. They share 6 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
convict and convince form a confusable pair in the English index, two distinct headwords that are easily confused because they look alike, sound alike, or both. They differ by 1 letter(s) in length - close enough that the eye skips over the difference, far enough that meaning fully diverges. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 18285, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
convict is recorded at frequency rank #13,693, classified as averb, pronounced /kənˈvɪkt/. convince is at rank #4,592, tagged as averb, pronounced /kənˈvɪns/.
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 18285, this pair ranks #445,905 of 530,003 scored English confusable pairs - a relatively easy-to-tell-apart pair.
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "convict" and "convince" be used interchangeably?
Remembering convict vs convince
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “convict” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable