unconvicted
1
6.8
- adjective
- /ˌʌn.kənˈvɪk.tɪd/
- A massive amount of white-collar crime is suspected of going unconvicted because there is so little evidence.
- unconvicted felons
Examples
-
Even though he faced serious allegations, he remains an unconvicted person under the law.
-
The man is considered an unconvicted individual until proven guilty in court.
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The fact is that this man is now an unconvicted felon.
Blog text (13) -
I don't think Reid can assign his disdain for a still-sitting and unconvicted governor with his powers still intact to Burris.
Blog text (19) -
The unconvicted suspects were released due to lack of evidence against them.
Synonyms
305
3.2
A court or jury finds someone did not commit the crime they were charged with
2
5.9
A court says a person is not guilty of a crime after a trial
Surface Forms
Morphology
unconvicted = convicted (transparent) = un + convict + ed
Regular prefixation of 'un-' to the adjective 'convicted' yields the straightforward negated meaning 'not convicted'.
Etymology
Unconvicted comes from un- meaning 'not' and convict meaning 'to prove guilty', a root you can also see in convince ('to prove') and victory ('to win'). So, unconvicted means someone who is 'not proven guilty' by a court.