felony

[fel-uh-nee]

noun

Law.

plural

felonies 

1. an offense, as murder or burglary, of graver character than those called misdemeanors, especially those commonly punished in the U.S. by imprisonment for more than a year.

2. Early English Law.,  any crime punishable by death or mutilation and forfeiture of lands and goods.

felony

/ ˈfɛlənɪ /

noun

1. (formerly) a serious crime, such as murder or arson. All distinctions between felony and misdemeanour were abolished in England and Wales in 1967

felony

1. A grave crime, such as murder, rape, or burglary, that is punishable by death (see capital offense) or imprisonment in a state or federal facility.

Word History and Origins

Origin of felony¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English felonie, from Anglo-French, Old French: “villainy”; equivalent to felon ¹ + -y ³

Example Sentences

The Department of Justice tried to charge Dunn with assaulting a federal officer, a felony, but a grand jury declined to bring such charges against him.

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Public servants who lived up to their oaths of office losing their careers or being charged with crimes at the behest of a man convicted of numerous felonies.

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Wendy Osefos faces 16 charges, including seven felony charges for alleged false/misleading information fraud involving more than $300, eight misdemeanor conspiracy counts and a misdemeanor for an alleged false statement to an officer.

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A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted James, a Democrat, on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution, both felonies, according to court documents.

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Sanchez is being charged with a level five felony of battery involving serious bodily injury and three misdemeanors — battery resulting in injury, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication.

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Related Words

• arson 
• assault 
• burglary 
• murder 
• offense 
• rape 
• robbery 
• violation 
• wrongdoing