What is the difference between ajudication and conviction?

An adjudication simply means that a court case has been resolved on the record. Whether this be a civil or criminal matter. For criminal cases, an adjudication could mean the case was dismissed, a guilty plea was entered, or if it went to trial the defendant was found guilty or not guilty (acquitted).

A conviction is where a person has either plead guilty to a criminal offense, or was found guilty at trial of criminal offense. In most cases, a criminal conviction is a public record and will appear on a person's criminal record unless the conviction was sealed, deferred, or eventually dismissed or expunged.