convince

/kənˈvɪns/

//kənˈvɪns// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"convince" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“convince” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #4,592 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#4,592
frequency rank, English
8
letters
12
tracked misspellings
6
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

convince vs convinced
89% similar
convince vs convinces
89% similar
convince vs convict
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for convince
PropertyValue
Headwordconvince
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/kənˈvɪns/
Letters8
Frequency rank#4,592
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs6
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “convince” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). convince lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for convince is 8 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /kənˈvɪns/. Corpus data places it at rank #4,592 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for convince, with forms such as "cconvince", "cnovince", and "conivnce". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 6 confusable-pair relationships, "convinced", "convinces", "convict", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin convincō (“I refute, prove”), from con- + vincō (“I conquer, vanquish”). Doublet of convict. Displaced native Old English oferreċċan. The correct English form is convince, spelled C-O-N-V-I-N-C-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.
  2. 2
    To persuade.
  3. 3
    To overcome, conquer, vanquish.
  4. 4
    To behave believably in a role; to make someone perceive oneself as the character being portrayed.
  5. 5
    To confute; to prove wrong.
  6. 6
    To prove guilty; to convict.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin convincō (“I refute, prove”), from con- + vincō (“I conquer, vanquish”). Doublet of convict. Displaced native Old English oferreċċan.

This word in other languages

convencer(Español)convaincre(Français)überzeugen(Deutsch)convencer(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: cconvince,cnovince,conivnce,connvince,convicne,convincce,convinec,convinnce,convnice,convvince,covnince,ocnvince

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of convince - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

cconvince1cnovince2conivnce2connvince1convicne2convincce1convinec2convinnce1
Edit distance from "convince"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "convince"?
"convince" is spelled C-O-N-V-I-N-C-E. The IPA pronunciation is /kənˈvɪns/.
What does "convince" mean?
As a verb, "convince" means: To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.
What words are commonly confused with "convince"?
"convince" is commonly confused with "convinced", "convinces", "convict". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "convince"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "convince" is /kənˈvɪns/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "convince"?
Borrowed from Latin convincō (“I refute, prove”), from con- + vincō (“I conquer, vanquish”). Doublet of convict. Displaced native Old English oferreċċan. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “convince”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-N-V-I-N-C-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /kənˈvɪns/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “convinced” - see the side-by-side comparison. convince vs convinced
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list