The act of converting something or someone.
conversion — Definition and meaning
• A software product converted from one platform to another.
• A chemical reaction wherein a substrate is transformed into a product.
• A free kick, after scoring a try, worth two points.
• An extra point (or two) scored by kicking a field goal or carrying the ball into the end zone after scoring a touchdown.
• An online advertising performance metric representing a visitor performing whatever the intended result of an ad is defined to be.
• Under the common law, the tort of the taking of someone's personal property with intent to permanently deprive them of it, or damaging property to the extent that the owner is deprived of the utility of that property, thus making the tortfeasor liable for the entire value of the property.
• Living space in a part of a building that was previously uninhabitable, or the process of constructing such living space.
• The process whereby a new word is created without changing the form, often by allowing the word to function as a new part of speech.
• The act of turning round; revolution; rotation.
• The act of interchanging the terms of a proposition, as by putting the subject in the place of the predicate, or vice versa.
• A change or reduction of the form or value of a proposition.
• Changing a miniature figure into another character, usually by mixing different parts, or molding the model's parts, or doing both.
The importance of conversion
conversion appears in U.S. legal practice across multiple practice areas. Knowing what it means — and when it applies — can determine the outcome of motions, filings, and negotiations. For non-lawyers, the value of looking up a precise definition is that legal terms often carry meanings that differ from everyday usage; relying on the common meaning can lead to costly missteps.
How conversion is applied
In practice, conversion is invoked when parties, judges, or attorneys need to identify the legal status of an issue, the rights of those involved, or the procedural step required next. The definition shown above is sourced from Wiktionary , which is widely cited in U.S. legal practice. Because U.S. law is jurisdictionally layered — federal, state, and sometimes local — the precise application of the term can vary by court, so check the controlling authority for your specific case.