1. Jews in medieval and early modern Spain and Portugal who converted to Christianity, often under pressure or threat of persecution.
Usage: historical; plural form; singular is converso; often capitalized

Examples

• Many conversos faced suspicion from the Spanish Inquisition despite their conversion to Christianity.
• The conversos played an important role in Spanish society during the 15th and 16th centuries.
• Some conversos maintained secret Jewish practices while publicly identifying as Christians.
• The expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492 affected both practicing Jews and conversos.
• Historians study the conversos to understand religious coexistence and conflict in medieval Iberia.